Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F73/00—Apparatus for smoothing or removing creases from garments or other textile articles by formers, cores, stretchers, or internal frames, with the application of heat or steam 
  • D06F73/02—Apparatus for smoothing or removing creases from garments or other textile articles by formers, cores, stretchers, or internal frames, with the application of heat or steam  having one or more treatment chambers
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
  • D06F58/10—Drying cabinets or drying chambers having heating or ventilating means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B61/00—Wardrobes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B96/00—Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture
  • A47B96/04—Partition walls
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
  • A47F3/00—Show cases or show cabinets
  • A47F3/001—Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
  • A47F5/00—Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features
  • A47F5/0043—Show shelves
  • A47F5/005—Partitions therefore
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
  • A47F7/00—Show stands, hangers, or shelves, adapted for particular articles or materials
  • A47F7/19—Show stands, hangers, or shelves, adapted for particular articles or materials for garments
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
  • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
  • D06F58/206—Heat pump arrangements
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
  • E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
  • E06B9/02—Shutters, movable grilles, or other safety closing devices, e.g. against burglary
  • E06B9/08—Roll-type closures
  • E06B9/11—Roller shutters
  • E06B9/115—Roller shutters specially adapted for furniture

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to an object treatment apparatus. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an object treatment apparatus that dehumidifies and manages air in a space that accommodates objects such as clothes and items.
• objects such as humidity, for objects, including not only ordinary clothing, but also items such as hats, scarves, handkerchiefs, and dolls, and things such as watches and trinkets, in order to preserve or store the objects in an optimal condition and to display the objects in public.
• Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2014-0108454 discloses a general laundry treatment apparatus.
• a processing room is formed inside a cabinet to accommodate clothes and manage the clothes using steam and hot air, and hanger bars for hanging clothes are arranged left and right inside the processing room.
• a machine room including machinery necessary for clothing management is located under the processing room to supply hot air and steam to the processing room.
• the clothes When clothes are mounted on the hanger bar using a hanger, the clothes may be arranged in a front-back direction of the cabinet. Further, the processing room may be provided with shelves on which bags, hats, and other items requiring care may be placed.
• the apparatus since the apparatus is focused on simply treating and managing clothing, it does not have a separate space to display or store clothes inside.
• Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2019-0141286 discloses a laundry treatment apparatus including a processing room that accommodates and manages clothes, a a temperature-controllable storage room that stores clothes that have been treated.
• the processing room and the storage room are arranged left and right, and thus the laundry treatment apparatus occupies a large volume in an indoor space.
• the apparatus disclosed above does not have a separate showcase room for showcase purposes, and therefore, it is impossible to arrange clothing in such a way that only the clothing desired by the user is visible from the outside.
• Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2019-0139400 discloses a laundry treatment apparatus including a processing room and a storage room that are arranged in a front-back direction.
• the disclosure does not have a separate space for showing the clothing to the outside of the cabinet, but simply separates the inside of the cabinet into a processing room to treat the clothing and a storage room to accommodate the treated clothing.
• the processing room and storage room of the above structure is not a space for storing clothing by providing a favorable temperature and humidity environment for the clothing, but rather a space for treating the clothing by supplying steam to the clothing and simply storing the treated clothing.
• the processing room has a function of managing the clothing, and there is no separate mechanical device to manage the temperature and humidity of the storage room. Therefore, when clothing that has been treated or managed is stored in the storage room, the clothing stored in the storage room may be affected by changes in the ambient temperature and humidity. For example, if the clothing is stored without controlling the temperature and humidity, the humidity level of the clothing may increase, causing the clothing to become damp or adsorb odors from the environment.
• the disclosed apparatus is not intended to provide a suitable environment for objects to be stored, but merely provides a compartment to treat and store clothing.
• a device to manage the temperature and humidity of the clothing during storage is needed.
• the aforementioned document discloses a structure of a separator plate separating the processing room and the storage room into front and rear compartments.
• the separator plate is moved to the right to integrate the processing room and the storage room to allow the treated clothing in the processing room to be moved to the storage room.
• the separator plate moves to the left to separate the processing room from the storage room again.
• the separator plate of the above-described disclosure since the separator plate of the above-described disclosure only moves in between the processing room and the storage room, the separator plate may remain folded in the space between the storage room and the processing room even when the separator plate moves to the right to integrate the processing room and the storage room, which may be aesthetically displeasing. Additionally, since the separator plate always occupies at least a portion of the space between the processing room and the storage room, the space corresponding to the occupied portion cannot be utilized.
• An object of the present disclosure devised to solve the above-described problems is to provide an object treatment apparatus including a first chamber partitioned into a first object processing room configured to treat an object and a second chamber distinguished from the first object processing room and configured to treat an object.
• Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an object treatment apparatus having a partition arranged to partition or integrate the space inside a first chamber into a space for circulation of a first flow and a space for circulation of a second flow.
• Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an object treatment apparatus in which a separator that partitions the interior of the first chamber into a first object processing room and a second object processing room is moved into the first object processing room or the second object processing room to integrate the first object processing room and the second object processing room to utilize the space between the first object processing room and the second object processing room.
• Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an object treatment apparatus capable of integrating or separating a first object processing room and a second object processing room inside a first chamber more quickly by means of two separation bodies.
• Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an object treatment apparatus in which the upper and lower portions of a partition are guided to prevent lifting or drooping.
• Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an object treatment apparatus including a partition that partitions a space inside a first chamber into a space facing an inlet and a space disposed behind the space facing the inlet, thereby dividing or integrating the interior of the first chamber in a front-to-back direction.
• Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an object treatment apparatus including a partition that partitions or integrates the space of a first chamber between a shelf unit provided in the front of the first chamber and a shelf unit provided in the rear of the first chamber.
• an object treatment apparatus including a cabinet having an inlet in a front surface thereof, a door coupled to the cabinet to open and close the inlet, a first chamber arranged inside the cabinet to accommodate an object introduced through the inlet, a second chamber arranged inside the cabinet and defining a space separated from the first chamber, a circulator disposed in the second chamber to communicate with the first chamber, the circulator including a first flow path and second flow path allowing air from the first object processing room to circulate therethrough, and a partition slidably arranged in the first chamber to partition an interior of the first chamber into a first object processing room communicating with the first flow path and a second object processing room communicating with the second flow path.
• the first flow path may be disposed closer to the inlet than to a rear surface of the cabinet, and the second flow path may be disposed behind the first flow path.
• the first object processing room may be disposed to face the inlet, and the second object processing room may be disposed at a rear of the first object processing room.
• the object treatment apparatus may further include a guide assembly disposed to guide movement of the partition.
• the guide assembly may include a guide rail disposed on the upper portion of the first chamber, and a movable part movably disposed on the guide rail, wherein the partition may be coupled to the movable part to slide in parallel with the guide rail.
• the guide rail may include a separation rail disposed to allow the partition to move between the first object processing room and the second object processing room, and an accommodation rail extending from the separation rail toward the first object processing room or the second object processing room.
• the movable part may include a separating movable part arranged to move along the separation rail and coupled to one end of the partition, and an accommodating movable part arranged to move along the accommodation rail and coupled to an opposite end of the partition.
• the partition may slide along the separation rail and the accommodation rail through the separating movable part and the accommodating movable part.
• the separating movable part may be moved away from the accommodation rail such that the partition is positioned between the first object processing room and the second object processing room.
• the accommodating movable part may be moved away from the separation rail such that at least a portion of the partition is accommodated in the first object processing room or the second object processing room.
• the guide assembly may include a gear belt extending in parallel with the guide rail, the gear belt having gear teeth formed on one surface thereof.
• the movable part may be engaged with the gear belt and be moved by the gear belt.
• the partition may include a separation body disposed between the first object processing room and the second object processing room to separate or communicatively connect the first object processing room and the second object processing room, and a connector provided on an upper portion of the separation body to couple the separation body and the movable part to each other.
• the separation body may slide along the movable part by movement of the connector.
• the guide assembly may further include a guide frame disposed in parallel with the guide rail to surround the guide rail.
• the connector may include a first connection body extending upward from the upper portion of the separation body.
• the first connection body may move in a space between the guide rail and the guide frame.
• the guide assembly may further include a mounting base, The guide rail is seated on the mounting base, and a mounting cover arranged on and coupled to the mounting base and spaced apart from the guide rail.
• the connector may further include a second connection body bent at an end of the first connection body and extending between the mounting base and the mounting cover to be coupled to the movable part. The second connection body may move in a space between the mounting cover and the mounting base.
• the guide assembly may further include a plurality of gear units arranged spaced apart from each other along the guide rail and engaged with the gear belt, and a drive part configured to provide rotational force to at least one of the gear units.
• the plurality of gear units may include a first gear unit and a second gear unit disposed along the separation rail, engaged with each other to rotate in opposite directions.
• the gear belt may include a first separation gear belt disposed in parallel with the separation rail and engaged with the first gear unit, and a second separation gear belt disposed in parallel with the separation rail and engaged with the second gear unit.
• the first separation gear belt and the second separation gear belt rotate in opposite directions.
• the separating movable part may include a first separating movable part moved along the separation rail and engaged with the first separator belt, and a second separating movable part moved along the separation rail and engaged with the second separator belt.
• the first separating movable part and the second separating movable part move toward or away from each other on the separation rail.
• the partition may include a first separation body arranged to separate or integrate the first object processing room and a portion of the second object processing room, the first separation body being slidably coupled to the first separating movable part, and a second separation body arranged to separate or integrate the first object processing room and a remaining portion of the second object processing room, the second separation body being slidably coupled to the second separating movable part.
• the first separation body and the second separation body may separate the first object processing room and the second object processing room by moving toward each other, and integrate the first object processing room and the second object processing room by moving away from each other.
• the accommodation rail may include a first accommodation rail extending from one side of the separation rail to the first object processing room or the second object processing room, and a second accommodation rail extending in parallel with the first accommodation rail on an opposite side of the separation rail.
• the gear belt may include a first accommodation gear belt disposed in parallel with the first accommodation rail and connected to the first separation gear belt to rotate in the same direction as the first gear unit, and a second accommodation gear belt disposed in parallel with the second accommodation rail and connected to the second separation gear belt to rotate in the same direction as the second gear unit.
• the accommodating movable part may include a first accommodating movable part engaged with the first accommodation gear belt, the first accommodating movable part moving along the first accommodation rail to be coupled to the first separation body, and a second accommodating movable part engaged with the second accommodation gear belt, the second accommodating movable part moving along the second accommodation rail to be coupled to the second separation body.
• the first separation body may slide between the separation rail and the first accommodation rail
• the second separation body may slide between the separation rail and the second accommodation rail.
• the first separation body and the second separation body may separate the first object processing room and the second object processing room by moving away from the separation rail, and communicatively connect the first object processing room and the second object processing room by moving away from the first accommodation rail and the second accommodation rail, respectively.
• the first separation body may have one end coupled to the first separating movable part and an opposite end coupled to the second accommodating movable part.
• the second separation body may have one end coupled to the first separating movable part and an opposite end coupled to the second accommodating movable part.
• the partition may include a separation body disposed in the first object processing room and the second object processing room to separate or integrate the first object processing room and the second object processing room.
• the separation body may include a plurality of separation structures, and a coupling member connecting the plurality of separation structures to each other to allow the separation body to slide along the separation rail and the accommodation rail in a curving manner.
• a bottom surface of the first chamber may be provided with a slide groove recessed along region where the partition moves to allow a lower portion of the partition to be inserted thereinto.
• the partition may include a protrusion protruding downward to be inserted into the slide groove and slide along the slide groove.
• an object treatment apparatus including a cabinet having an inlet in a front surface thereof, a door coupled to the cabinet to open and close the inlet, a first chamber disposed inside the cabinet to accommodate objects introduced through the inlet, a second chamber disposed inside the cabinet and defining a space separated from the first chamber, a partition disposed in the first chamber to partition the first chamber into a first object processing room facing the inlet and a second object processing room disposed at a rear of the first object processing room, and a circulator disposed in the second chamber, the circulator including a first flow path communicating with the first object processing room to circulate air from the first object processing room and a second flow path communicating with the second object processing room to circulate air from in the second object processing room.
• the partition slides in the first chamber to separate the first object processing room and the second object processing room or to communicatively connect the first object processing room or the second object processing room.
• an object treatment apparatus including a cabinet having an inlet in a front surface thereof, a door coupled to the cabinet to open and close the inlet, a first chamber disposed inside the cabinet to accommodate objects introduced through the inlet, a second chamber disposed inside the cabinet and defining a space separated from the first chamber, a circulator disposed in the second chamber and allow air from the first chamber to circulate therethrough; a shelf unit including a first shelf coupled to the cabinet on a side surface of the first chamber and a second shelf coupled to the cabinet on a rear surface of the first chamber; and a partition slidably arranged in the first chamber to partition an interior of the first chamber into a first object processing room having the first shelf disposed therein and a second object processing room having the second shelf disposed therein.
• the first shelf and the second shelf may be disposed such that the inlet is closer to the first shelf.
• the first object processing room may communicate with the inlet, and the second object processing room may be blocked from or allowed to communicate with the inlet by the partition.
• the object treatment apparatus may further include a first air port allowing the first object processing chamber to communicate with the circulator, the first air port being disposed closer to the partition than to the first shelf.
• the first air port may be disposed in a space between the partition and the first shelf.
• the first object processing room may include a circulation region defined as a space between the partition and the first shelf in which the first air port is disposed; and a display region defined as a space between a front surface of the circulation region and the inlet in which the first shelf is disposed, wherein the first chamber may have a side surface narrowed to have a width along a width direction of the first chamber that is reduced from a front surface of the display region facing the inlet to a rear surface of the display region.
• the first air port may include a first air intake port provided in a bottom surface of the first chamber in the circulation region to allow air from the first object processing room to flow into the circulator, and a first air discharge port provided in the bottom surface of the first chamber in the circulation region to allow air from the circulator to be discharged to the first object processing room.
• the first air intake port and the first air discharge port may be spaced apart from each other along a width direction .
• a width of the rear surface of the display region may be less than or equal to a shortest widthwise distance between the first air intake port and the first air discharge port.
• the first air port may include a first air intake port allowing the air from the first object processing room to flow into the circulator, and a first air discharge port arranged spaced apart from the first air intake port along a width direction of the first chamber to discharge the air from the circulator into the first object processing room.
• the object treatment apparatus may further include a second air port provided in the second object processing room to allow the second object processing room and the circulator to communicate with each other.
• the second air port may include a second air intake port provided to allow air from the second object processing room to flow into the circulator, and a second air discharge port provided to allow air from the circulator to be discharged into the second object processing room, the second air discharge port being spaced apart from the second air intake port in a front-to-back direction of the first chamber.
• the second air intake port may be disposed closer to a rear surface of the first chamber than to the partition, and second air discharge port may be disposed closer to the partition than to the rear surface of the first chamber.
• the second air discharge port may be disposed in a space between the second shelf and the partition.
• the present disclosure may provide an object treatment apparatus including a first chamber partitioned into a first object processing room configured to treat an object and a second chamber distinguished from the first object processing room and configured to treat an object.
• an object treatment apparatus may circulate air in a showcase space and a storage space individually, thereby managing or controlling the temperature and humidity in each space independently.
• an object treatment apparatus includes a first chamber and a second chamber separated from the first chamber, and a porous material that performs at least one of functions of dehumidification and filtration of air is provided in the second chamber. Accordingly, the volume of the second chamber may be reduced compared to a case where a heat pump is provided in the second chamber.
• an object treatment apparatus may include a flow path to regenerate a saturated adsorbed porous material through a closed circulation flow path provided inside the second chamber.
• a first flow path through which air in a showcase space flows, a second flow path through which air in a storage space flows, and a third flow path provided with a closed circulation flow path for regeneration of a porous material may extend through a circulator in the second chamber in common.
• An object treatment apparatus may selectively switch one of the first flow path, the second flow path, and the third flow path through the circulator.
• an object treatment apparatus has a shelf unit detachably provided in the first chamber, and may thus allow objects such as clothing or items to be stored in a space-efficient manner.
• an object treatment apparatus allow a coupling position of a shelf unit to be changed such that the shelf unit may be fixed to the first chamber even when a partition is provided between the first object processing room and the second object processing room of the first chamber.
• an object treatment apparatus may allow air to circulate uniformly by changing the arrangement of an air discharge port provided in a showcase space and a storage space even when a shelf unit is provided.
• an object treatment apparatus may be provided with a porous material withdrawable to the outside of the cabinet for replacement.
• an object treatment apparatus may include a door window provided in the front of the cabinet, thereby allowing objects accommodated in the showcase space to be exposed to the outside, according to the intention of the user or a purpose.
• an object treatment apparatus may manage objects while keeping the objects accommodated in the storage space from being exposed to the outside using a partition, according to the intention of the user or a purpose.
• an object treatment apparatus may have a partition that slides to incorporate a showcase space and a storage space, depending on the size of an accommodated object or the purpose intended by the user.
• an object treatment apparatus is provided with a lighting unit in the first chamber and on the shelf unit to maximize the aesthetic effect seen from the outside.
• expressions such as “same” and “identical” indicate not only a strictly identical state, but also a state in which a tolerance or a difference in the degree to which the same function is obtained exists.
• Each axial direction refers to both directions in which each axis extends.
• Each axial direction preceded by a '+' sign (+X-axis direction, +Y-axis direction, or +Z-axis direction) refers to a positive direction which is one of the two directions in which each axis extends.
• Each axial direction preceded by a '-' sign refers to a negative direction which is the other of the two directions in which each axis extends.
• the term "object” is intended to include all ordinary clothing that requires daily care, such as tops such as shirts and blouses, bottoms such as jeans, and suits, jumpers, leather goods, and the like.
• the term object is used herein to include items such as hats, scarves, handkerchief bags, or dolls other than ordinary clothing, and is intended to be inclusive of even things such as watches and trinkets.
• clothing, article, or thing it can be construed as referring to an object in the context of the present disclosure.
• an object in the present disclosure is not defined by the classification of articles such as clothing, items, or things, but can be understood to include anything that can be accommodated in an object treatment apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
• treatment of an object is to be understood in a broad sense to include not only separating contaminants such as dust from the object, but also managing the temperature and humidity of the space in which the object is stored, as well as deodorizing and filtering the space to ensure that the object is preserved in an optimal space.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an object treatment apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 2-(a) is a perspective view showing the object treatment apparatus with a door open
• FIG. 2-(b) is a perspective view showing the door and partitions in an open position and a partial enlarged view of a lower portion of a cabinet.
• an object treatment apparatus 100 includes a cabinet 1 having a front surface with an inlet 11 formed therein, a door 2 coupled to the cabinet 1 to open and close the inlet 11, a first chamber 13 disposed inside the cabinet 1 to accommodate an object put through the inlet 11, a second chamber 15 defining a space separate from the first chamber 13, and a partition 5 arranged to partition the first chamber 13 into a first object processing room 137 and a second object processing room 138.
• the cabinet 1 is provided with the inlet 11 in the front surface 121, and an object may be put through the inlet 11.
• the entire front surface 121 of the cabinet 1 may be provided as the inlet 11, or the inlet 11 may be formed by penetrating a portion of the front surface 121.
• the front surface 121 may include an upper panel 121a disposed at the top of the inlet 11 and a lower panel 121 b disposed at the bottom of the inlet 11.
• the first chamber 13 may be provided in an inner space of the cabinet 1. A front side of the first chamber 13 may communicate with the inlet 11. In other words, the interior of the first chamber 13 is accessible through the inlet 11.
• the first chamber includes a first chamber rear surface 132 (see FIG. 6 ) disposed on a rear side to face the inlet 11, a first chamber left side surface 133 (see FIG. 6 ) disposed on a left side the first chamber 13, a first chamber right side surface 134 (see FIG. 6 ) disposed on a right side of the first chamber, a first chamber bottom surface 135 (see FIG. 4 ) defining a lower surface of the first chamber, and a first chamber upper surface defining an upper surface of the first chamber.
• the first chamber 13 may accommodate an object put through the inlet 11 in an inner space defined by the first chamber rear surface 132, the first chamber left side surface 133, the first chamber right side surface 134, the first chamber bottom surface 135, and the first chamber upper surface.
• the first chamber 13 may be a space where an object such as accommodated clothes, items, or things are preserved or stored, and may thus be referred to as a storage room, a preservation room, a processing room, a showcase room, or a receiving chamber.
• the second chamber 15 may be provided with a space separated from the first chamber 13 (see FIG. 4 ).
• the second chamber 15 may define a space separated from a lower portion of the first chamber 13 by the first chamber bottom surface 135. That is, the second chamber 15 may define a space separated from the first chamber 13 in the cabinet 1 by the first chamber bottom surface 135.
• a circulator 3 (see FIG. 7 ) may be provided in the second chamber 15.
• the circulator 3 may be arranged in the second chamber 15 to communicate with the first chamber 13 to circulate air inside the first chamber 13.
• the circulator 3 will be described later in detail.
• the second chamber 15 is a place where a mechanical device is arranged to suck in the air from the first chamber 13, process the air, and then supply the air back into the first chamber 13 for circulation, and thus may also be referred to as a machine room or an auxiliary chamber.
• the door 2 may be rotatably coupled to the cabinet 1 to open and close the inlet 11.
• the door 2 may include a door frame 21 defining a frame of the door 2, a door window 23 surrounded or supported by the door frame 21 and disposed to face at least a portion of the inlet 11, and a door hinge 25 configured to couple the door frame 21 to the cabinet 1 to rotatably couple the door to the cabinet 1.
• the door frame 21 may be arranged to surround an outer surface of the door window 23.
• the door frame 21 may be coupled to a rear surface of the door window 23, which faces the inlet 11, such that only the door window 23 is exposed through the front of the object treatment apparatus 100.
• the door window 23 may be disposed to face the inlet 11.
• the door window 23 may be light transmissive to allow the interior of the first chamber 13, and more specifically the interior of the first object processing room 137, to be visible from the outside through the inlet 11.
• the door window 23 may include a display, and a camera (not shown) may be provided in the first chamber 13. Thus, an object in the first chamber 13 may be displayed through the display of the door window 23.
• the door window 23 is not particularly limited as long as it is configured to provide a view of the space inside the first chamber 13.
• the door hinge 25 rotatably connects the door frame 21 to the cabinet 1.
• the door hinge 25 may include an upper hinge 251 coupled to the upper panel 121a provided on an upper portion of the cabinet front surface 121 and a lower hinge 252 coupled to the lower panel 121b provided on a lower portion of the cabinet front surface 121.
• FIG. 3-(a) is a projection view illustrating a partition partitioning a first chamber into a first object processing room and a second object processing room
• FIG. 3-(b) is a projection view illustrating the partition being opened to integrate the first object processing room and the second object processing room of the first chamber
• FIG. 4 is a view schematically illustrating a first object processing room, a second object processing room, and a second chamber of an object treatment apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
• the inside of the first chamber 13 may be partitioned into the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 by the partition 5.
• the partition 5 is illustrated as partitioning the first chamber 13 into front and rear rooms, the direction of partitioning of the first chamber 13 is not necessarily limited thereto.
• the partition 5 may be disposed between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 to separate the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 from each other.
• the partition 5 may be moved a predetermined distance such that the partition 5 is disposed in only a portion of an area between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138.
• the first chamber 13 may be considered to be partially separated by the partition 5.
• the expression “separated” may be used herein to mean that at least a portion of the partition is positioned between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138, and thus the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 are at least partially separated from each other, and may be used in a comprehensive sense to include any state other than the expression "integrated,” which will be explained below.
• the partition 5 may be opened to integrate the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 to form the first chamber 13.
• the partition 5 may be moved into the first object processing room 137 or the second object processing room 138, and thus the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 may communicate with each other.
• a state in which any portion of the partition 5 is not disposed between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138, that is, a state in which the first object processing room 137 completely communicates with the second object processing room 138 may be described as being "integrated.”
• the partition 5 when the partition 5 is not disposed between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138, the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 may be integrated to form the first chamber 13.
• the partition 5 may separate the chamber 13 into the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138.
• a lower portion of the partition 5 may be at least partially inserted into a slide groove 1357 (see FIG. 6 ) provided in the first chamber bottom surface 135, and may be moved along the slide groove 1357.
• An upper portion of the partition 5 may be connected to a guide assembly (not shown) so as to move along the guide assembly. That is, the upper portion of the partition 5 may be guided by the guide assembly in the first chamber 13 above the second chamber 15, and the lower portion of the partition 5 may be movably guided by the slide groove 1357.
• the term communication may mean that the partition slides and the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 at least partially communicate with each other, and may include the meaning that the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 are integrated or expanded to form the interior of the first chamber.
• the partition 5 may partition the first chamber 13 in various ways according to the purpose of the first chamber 13.
• the first chamber 13 may be partitioned into front and rear parts in the cabinet 1, i.e., the first object processing room 137 facing the first inlet 11 and the second object processing room 138 disposed behind the first object processing room 137, by the partition 5.
• the first chamber 13 may be partitioned by the partition 5 into the first object processing room 137 communicating with the inlet 11 and the second object processing room 138 that does not communicate with the inlet 11.
• first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 may be separated by the partition 5 in the first chamber 13, and the second object processing room 138 may be disposed behind the first object processing room 137.
• the interior of the first object processing room 137 may be accessible through the inlet 11.
• the second object processing room 138 may be accessible through the first object processing room 137.
• the first object processing room 137 may be arranged to face the door 2 as well as the inlet 11, so as to be visible from the outside.
• the first object processing room 137 of the first chamber 13 may be exposed to the outside through the inlet 11 and function as a space primarily intended for sselling, while the second object processing room 138 may be hidden inside by the partition 5 and function as a space primarily intended for storage.
• the first chamber 13 may be partitioned by the partition 5 into a space (first object processing room) in which air circulating along a first flow path (see FIG. 13 ), which will be described later, flows and a space (second object processing room) in which air circulating along a second flow path (see FIG. 14 ) flows.
• the interior of the cabinet 13 may be partitioned into the space in which air circulates along the first flow path and the space in which air circulates along the second flow path.
• the first object processing room 137 may be used as a space in which objects suitable for the temperature and humidity conditions of air flowing through the first flow path are stored
• the second object processing room 138 may be used as a space in which objects suitable for the temperature and humidity conditions of air flowing through the second flow path are stored.
• the first chamber 13 may be partitioned into a space (first object processing room) communicating with a first air port 171 (see FIG. 6 ) and a space (second object processing room) communicating with a second air port 172 (see FIG. 6 ).
• This partitioning method may allow objects of different sizes or materials to be stored depending on the amount of air flowing through the first air port 171 or the second air port 172.
• the first chamber may be partitioned by the partition 5 into the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 having a larger volume than the first object processing room 137.
• the first object processing room 137 may be used to store an object with a relatively small volume (e.g., purses, necklaces, etc.), and the second object processing room 138 may be used to store an object with a relatively large volume (e.g., handbags, bags, etc.).
• a relatively small volume e.g., purses, necklaces, etc.
• the second object processing room 138 may be used to store an object with a relatively large volume (e.g., handbags, bags, etc.).
• the present disclosure will be described based on a case where the first chamber 13 is partitioned by the partition 5 into the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 disposed behind the first object processing room 137 (wherein the first chamber 13 is partitioned into front and rear parts).
• the first object processing room 137 is a space where objects intended for display are stored, and thus may be referred to as a showcase space or a display space.
• the second object processing room 138 is a space for storing an object rather than displaying an object, and thus may be referred to as a storage space, a preservation space, or a processing space.
• FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an object treatment apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure taken along a front-to-back direction (X-axis direction) and a partial enlarged view of a cross section of a portion of a cabinet.
• the first chamber 13 may be provided with a shelf unit 8 and a lighting unit 9.
• the shelf unit 8 may include a first shelf 81 disposed in the first object processing room 137 and a second shelf 82 disposed in the second object processing room 138.
• the first shelf 81 may be disposed in the first object processing room 137 and may be coupled to an inner circumferential surface of the first chamber 13.
• the inlet 11 may be disposed on the front side of the first object processing room 137, and the partition 5 or the second object processing room 138 may be disposed behind the first object processing room 137.
• the partition 5 is not fixed in the first chamber 13, and thus it is difficult to couple the first shelf 81 to the partition 5. This is because, if the first shelf 81 is coupled to the first shelf 81, an object seated on the first shelf 81 is likely to fall down or it is difficult to smoothly move the partition 5.
• the inlet 11 and the second object processing room 137 represent a space, and thus it is difficult to couple the first shelf 81 thereto.
• the first shelf 81 may be coupled to a left side surface 133 of the first chamber 13 and a right side surface 134 of the first chamber 13.
• first shelf 81 may be coupled to a first left side surface 1331 (see FIG. 6 ), and the opposite side may be coupled to a first right side surface 1341 (see FIG. 6 ).
• the second shelf 82 is disposed in the second object processing room 138. Since the partition 5 or the first object processing room 137 is disposed in front of the second object processing room 138, it is difficult to couple the second shelf 82 to the front of the second object processing room 138.
• a lateral side of the second object processing room 138 is a space to which the second object processing room 138 is moved (see FIG. 6 ), and thus it is difficult to couple the second shelf 82 to side surfaces 133 and 134 of the first chamber 13 at a lateral side of the first chamber 13.
• the second shelf 82 may be coupled to an inner case 140 (see FIG. 6-(a) ) or may be coupled to a rear surface 132 of the first chamber 13 according to embodiments of the partition 5.
• the partition 5 may be disposed to be movable along a circumference of the second object processing room 138 (see FIG. 6-(a) ). In this case, the partition 5 is moved along the front, side, and rear of the second object processing room 138, and accordingly it is difficult for the second shelf 82 to be directly fixed to the rear surface 132 of the first chamber 13.
• the inner case 140 may be provided inside the second object processing room 138, and may be spaced apart from the side surfaces 133 and 134 and the rear surface 132 of the first chamber 13 by a predetermined distance.
• the inner case 140 is arranged to surround the second object processing room 138 by extending from the rear of the second object processing room 138 to both sides, with one open side of the inner case 140 facing the first object processing room 137. In this way, the inner case 140 may be arranged to surround the sides and rear of the second object processing room 138 except the front thereof.
• the partition 5 may be moved between the side surface of the inner case 140 and the side surfaces 133 and 134 of the first chamber 13 and between the rear surface of the inner case 140 and the rear surface 132 of the first chamber 13.
• the bottom surface 135 between the inner case 140 and the first chamber 13 is recessed to provide the slide groove 1357 (see FIG. 6-(a) ), and the partition 5 may be moved along the slide groove 1357.
• the inner case 140 may not only enhance the aesthetics, and but also guide movement of the partition 5 by hiding the partition 5 accommodated inside the second object processing room 138.
• the inner case 140 may provide a space to which the second shelf 82 may be coupled.
• the inner case 140 may provide a fixing surface on which the second shelf 82 may be disposed, rather than the side surfaces 133 and 134 and the rear surface 132 of the first chamber 13 in the second object processing room 138.
• the second shelf 82 may be coupled to any one of a left side surface, a right side surface, or a rear surface of the inner case 140 and disposed inside the second object processing room 138.
• the partition 5 may be disposed to be moved along the front and both sides of the second object processing room 138 except for the rear thereof (see FIG. 6-(b) ).
• the partition 5 is not moved to the rear of the second object processing room 138, and thus the second shelf 82 may be directly coupled to the rear surface 132 of the first chamber 13.
• the inner case 140 may be provided on both side surfaces of the second object processing room 138, and the second shelf 82 may be coupled to at least one of the rear surface 132 of the first chamber 13 and the inner case 140.
• the inner case 140 may be required to fix the second shelf 82.
• the second shelf 82 may be coupled to at least one of the left side surface, the right side surface, or the rear surface of the inner case 140 and disposed in the second object processing room 138.
• the inner case 140 may not be required to fix the second shelf 82. That is, in this case, the second shelf 82 may be fixed to the rear surface 132 of the first chamber 13.
• FIG. 5 shows a case where the second shelf 82 is coupled to the rear surface 132 of the second chamber 15.
• the partition 5 may be arranged between the first shelf 81 and the second shelf 82. That is, the partition 5 may be provided between the first shelf 81 and the second shelf 82.
• the coupling structure of the first shelf 81 and the second shelf 82 described above may allow the partition 5 to move without being hindered by the first shelf 81 and the second shelf 82.
• the lighting unit 9 may be disposed between the first shelf 81 and the second shelf 82.
• the lighting unit 9 may be coupled to the side surfaces 133 and 134 of the first chamber 13 and may extend in a height direction.
• the lighting unit 9 is illustrated as being disposed in the first object processing room 137, it is not limited thereto.
• the arrangement of the lighting unit 9 in the drawing is merely an example. There may be various arrangements.
• the lighting unit may be provided to the shelf unit 8 or on the bottom surface 135.
• the circulator 3 may be provided inside the second chamber 15.
• the first chamber 13 and the second chamber 15 are separated by the bottom surface 135 in the cabinet 1.
• the bottom surface 135 of the first chamber 13 may be provided with a step as shown in the drawing, and lower covers 181 and 182 may be arranged to fill the step of the bottom surface 135 of the first chamber 13.
• the lower covers 181 and 182 may include a first lower cover 181 arranged to cover a first bottom surface 1351 as the bottom surface 135 disposed in the first object processing room 137, and a second lower cover 182 arranged to cover a second bottom surface 1352 as the bottom surface 135 disposed in the second object processing room 138.
• a second air intake port 1721 and a second air discharge port 1723 may allow the second object processing room 138 and the second chamber to communicate with each other.
• the second air intake port 1721 and the second air discharge port 1723 may protrude upward from the second bottom surface 1352.
• the second lower cover 182 may include a second intake cover hole 1821 communicating with the second air intake port 1721, and a second discharge cover hole 1823 communicating with the second air discharge port 1723, such that the second air port 172 may communicate with the inside of the second object processing room 138 through the second lower cover 182.
• an empty space may be formed between the first bottom surface 1351 and the first lower cover 181 and between the second bottom surface 1352 and the second lower cover 182 to the extent that the air port protrudes, and the lighting unit 9 or other equipment may be placed in the space.
• the lower covers 181 and 182 may be spaced apart from the first chamber bottom surface 135 by at least the protruding height of a first air port 171 and may be arranged on the first chamber bottom surface 135 to cover the first chamber bottom surface 135.
• the lower covers 181 and 182 may include a first lower cover 181 covering the first bottom surface 1351 and a second lower cover 182 covering the second bottom surface 1352.
• the step of the first chamber bottom surface 135 may be removed, and air may flow smoothly through the air port.
• the first lower cover 181 may include a first intake port cover formed at a position corresponding to a first air intake port 1711, which will be describe later, to have a penetration to allow air to flow through the first air intake port 1711, and a first discharge port cover formed at a position corresponding to a first air discharge port 1713 to have a penetration to allow air to flow through the first air discharge port 1713.
• a flow of air through the first air port 171 may be appropriately guided, and the first air port 171 may be protected from an external environment.
• the second lower cover 182 may include a second intake port cover 1821 formed at a position corresponding to a second air intake port 1721, which will be described later, to have a penetration to allow air to flow through the second air intake port 1721, and a second discharge port cover 1823 formed at a position corresponding to a second air discharge port 1723 to have a penetration to allow air to flow through the second air discharge port 1723.
• a flow of air through the second air port 172 may be appropriately guided, and the second air port 172 may be protected from an external environment.
• the lighting unit 9 may be inserted into a predetermined space between the first chamber bottom surface and the lower covers 181 and 182, such that a bottom surface of the first chamber 13 may emit light.
• the lower covers 181 and 182 are for effective use of the bottom surface 135, and are not essential elements. The description below is based on the assumption that the lower covers 181 and 182 are not provided.
• the object treatment apparatus may include the first shelves 81 spaced apart from each other in a height direction inside the first chamber 13 and the lighting unit 9 provided to illuminate the inner space of the first chamber 13.
• the lighting unit 9 may be embedded inside the shelf unit 8, or may be provided on the first chamber bottom surface 135 and an internal surface of the first chamber 13 to aesthetically emphasize an object accommodated in the first chamber.
• the shelf unit 8 may include the lighting unit 9 therein, and when a mounting surface (not shown) on which an object is mounted may be transmissive, thereby emphasizing the object seated on the mounting surface with lighting. As described above, the shelf unit 8 may include the first shelf 81 disposed in the first object processing room 137 and the second shelf 82 disposed in the second object processing room 138.
• the first shelf 81 is coupled to the first chamber 13 in the first object processing room 137.
• the front of the first object processing room 137 may face the inlet 11 and the rear thereof may face the partition 5. Therefore, a shelf coupler (not shown) may be provided at one or more of the first left side surface 1331 or the second right side surface 1341 of the first chamber 13, and the first shelf may be coupled to the shelf coupler in the first object processing room 137.
• the first shelf 81 may be coupled to one or more of the first left side surface 1331 (see FIG. 6 ) of the first chamber 13 or the first right side surface 1341 (see FIG. 6 ) of the first chamber 13.
• FIG. 6-(a) is a plan view of a lower portion of a cabinet of an object treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 6-(b) is a plan view of a lower portion of a cabinet of an object treatment apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
• the structure of the first chamber 13 may be changed according to movement of the partition 5.
• the partition 5 may be moved to surround the second object processing room 138.
• the inner case 140 may be provided to separate a movement path of the partition 5 from the storage space and the second shelf 82 inside the second object processing room 138.
• the partition 5 may only be moved from the front to a side of the second object processing room 138.
• the inner case 140 is not necessarily required.
• the partition 5 does not move to the rear of the second object processing room 138, and a space to which the partition 5 does not move may be secured.
• a space as large as the thickness of the partition 5 or distance a between the rear surface of the inner case 140 and the rear surface 132 of the first chamber 13 may be secured in the second object processing room 138 (see a in FIG. 6-(a) ).
• the bottom surface 135 of the first chamber 13 may be provided with first air ports 1711 and 1713 and second air ports 1721 and 1723.
• the first air ports 1711 and 1713 and the second air ports 1721 and 1723 are collectively referred to as air ports.
• the air ports are provided on the bottom surface 135 of the first chamber 13 to allow the first chamber 13 and the second chamber 15 to communicate with each other.
• the air ports communicate with the circulator 3 (see the partial enlarged view of part B in FIG. 5 ). Through the air ports, air inside the first chamber 13 may be discharged to the circulator 3, and air processed by the circulator 3 may be supplied back to the first chamber 13.
• the locations of the air ports 171 and 172 (see FIG. 6 ) in the first chamber 13 may vary depending on the location of the second chamber 15.
• the air ports may be provided in an upper surface 136 of the first chamber 13.
• the second chamber 15 defines a separate space below the first chamber 13, and thus the air port 171 may be formed in the bottom surface 135 of the first chamber 13 to allow the first chamber and the circulator 3 to communicate with each other.
• the first chamber bottom surface 135 may include the first bottom surface 1351 provided in the first object processing room 137, and a second bottom surface 1352 provided in the second object processing room 138.
• first bottom surface 1351 may define a bottom surface of the first object processing room 137
• second bottom surface 1352 may define a bottom surface of the second object processing room 138.
• the bottom surface 135 of the first chamber may be provided with a step due to the air ports 171 and 172 protruding upward from the first chamber bottom surface 135.
• the air ports 171 and 172 may include the first air ports 1711 and 1713 disposed in the first object processing room 137 to allow the first object processing room 137 and the circulator 3 to communicate with each other, and the second air ports 1721 and 1723 disposed in the second object processing room 138 to allow the second object processing room 138 and the circulator 3 to communicate with each other.
• the first air ports 1711 and 1713 may include the first air intake port 1711 arranged to introduce air from the first object processing room 137 into the circulator 3, and the first air discharge port 1713 arranged to introduce air from the circulator 3 into the first object processing room.
• the first air intake port 1711 may be arranged upstream of the circulator 3, and the first air discharge port 1713 may be arranged downstream of the circulator 3.
• air from the first object processing room 137 may be introduced into the circulator 3 through the first air intake port 1711 provided in the first object processing room 137, processed as the air passes through the circulation fan 321 and an air processor 325, and then supplied back into the first object processing room 137 through the first air discharge port 1713 for circulation.
• first air intake port 1711 and the first air discharge port 1713 may be disposed closer to the partition 5 than the inlet 11.
• the first air ports 1711 and 1713 may be arranged closer to the rear side than the front side in the first object processing room 137 for the following reason.
• the inlet 11 communicates with the outside. Accordingly, arranging the first air intake port 1711 and the first air discharge port 1713 close to the inlet 11 may cause the circulation of air inside the first object processing room 137 to be hindered when the door 2 is opened, which may make it difficult to manage the first object processing room 137.
• the first shelf 81 may be disposed closer to the inlet 11 than to the partition 5 in the first object processing room 137 to allow an object that is to be loaded to be seen better from the outside (see FIG. 5 ).
• the flow of air through the first air ports 1711 and 1713 may be obstructed by the first shelf 81, and thus circulation of the air may be hindered. Further, when there is an object accommodated in the first object processing room 137, circulation of air may be hindered by the object.
• the first air ports 1711 and 1713 are disposed close to the rear side to minimize obstruction of air circulation by the inlet 11.
• the first shelf 81 may be coupled to the side surfaces 133 and 134 of the first object processing room 137.
• the first shelf 81 when the first shelf 81 is disposed close to the rear side, it may interfere with the flow of air discharged or sucked in through the first air ports 1711 and 1713. On the other hand, when the first shelf 81 is disposed close to the front side, that is, the inlet 11, interference with the first air ports 1711 and 1713 may be minimized.
• the first object processing room 137 in which the first air ports 1711 and 1713 are disposed, may be a space that is primarily intended for display of objects, unlike the second object processing room 138. Therefore, in order to ensure more efficient circulation in the first object processing room 137 while limiting the size of the air port 17, the first air intake port 1711 and the first air discharge port 1713 may be spaced apart from each other in a width direction (Y-axis direction) of the chamber 13.
• the first object processing room 137 may have a greater length in the width direction (Y-axis direction) than in the front-to-back direction (X-axis direction) of the first chamber.
• the first air intake port 1711 and the first air discharge port 1713 may be spaced apart from each other as much as possible to further extend the flow path of air inside the first object processing room 137. Thereby, air inside the first object processing room 137 may be more effectively and uniformly circulated.
• the first air intake port 1711 may be disposed closer to an inlet hole 31a of a connection duct 31, which will be described later, in a direction parallel to the ground than to a discharge hole 31b of the connection duct (see FIG. 11 ).
• a distance in the direction parallel to the ground refers to a horizontal distance between the first air intake port 1711 and the inlet hole 31a or the discharge hole 31b.
• This arrangement may reduce the length of a first intake duct 35 connecting the first air intake port 1711 and the inlet hole 31a and simplify the duct structure. By reducing the length of the first intake duct 35, the flow loss of air from the first air intake port 1711 to the connection duct 31 may be minimized.
• the first air discharge port 1713 may be disposed closer to the discharge hole 31b of the connection duct 31 in a direction parallel to the ground than to the inlet hole 31a of the connection duct.
• This arrangement may reduce the length of a first intake duct 35 connecting the first air discharge port 1713 and the discharge hole 31b and simplify the duct structure. By reducing the length of the first discharge duct 37, the flow loss of air from the connection duct 31 to the first air discharge port may be minimized.
• the second air ports 1721 and 1723 may include the second air intake port 1721 arranged to introduce air from the second object processing room 138 into the circulator 3, and the second air discharge port 1723 arranged to introduce air from the circulator 3 into the second object processing room 138.
• the second air intake port 1721 may be arranged upstream of the circulator 3, and the second air discharge port 1723 may be arranged downstream of the circulator 3.
• air inside the second object processing room 138 may be introduced into the circulator 3 through the second air intake port 1721.
• the air introduced into the circulator 3 may be processed through the air processor 325 and then discharged to the second object processing room 138 through the second air discharge port 1723. Thereby, air in the second object processing room 138 may circulate.
• the second air intake port 1721 and the second air discharge port 1723 may be spaced apart from each other along the front-to-back direction (X-axis direction) of the first chamber.
• the second object processing room 138 may have a greater length in the width direction (Y-axis direction) than in the front-to-back direction.
• the area of the opening in each of the second air suction port 1721 and the second air discharge port 1723 may be further increased in the width direction.
• the area of the opening in each of the second air ports 1721 and 1723 may be elongated in the width direction.
• the overall opening area of the second air ports 1721 and 1723 may be increased.
• the amount of air flowing through the second air port may increase. Accordingly, even when the volume of the second object processing room 138 is larger than the volume of the first object processing room 137, air in the entirety of the second object processing room 138 may be circulated smoothly.
• the second air intake port 1721 and the second air discharge port 1723 are spaced apart from each other in the width direction, air circulation through the second air ports 1721 and 1723 may be hindered by the second shelf 82 disposed in the second object processing room 138. Therefore, the second air intake port 1721 and the second air discharge port 1723 may be spaced apart from each other in the front-to-back direction, which is advantageous in increasing the opening area of the second air ports 1721 and 1723.
• the second air intake port 1721 may be disposed closer to a rear surface 132 of the first chamber 13 than to the partition 5 of the first chamber 13, and the second air discharge port 1723 may be disposed closer to the partition 5 than to the rear surface 132 of the first chamber 13.
• This arrangement may allow air to be circulated smoothly up to the upper portion of the second object processing room 138 even when the second shelf 82 is provided in the second object processing room 138.
• the second shelf 82 in the second object processing room 138 may be mounted on a shelf mounting portion (not shown) provided on the rear surface 132 of the first chamber 13.
• the partition 5 may slide between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138, and thus the front side of the second shelf 82 may be spaced apart from the partition 5 by a predetermined distance (see the partial enlarged view of part A in FIG. 5 ).
• the second air discharge port 1723 may be arranged closer to the partition 5 such that air moves upward through a space between the front side of the second shelf 82 and the partition 5.
• the second air intake port 1721 is a port through which air is sucked in, and thus, even if it is disposed is placed close to the rear surface 132 of the first chamber 13, it may not be obstructed by the second shelf 82 and may not significantly affect the air circulation in the second object processing room 138.
• the second air discharge port 1723 may be arranged such that air processed by the circulator 3 reaches the upper portion of the second object processing room 138, which may be advantageous for air circulation and object processing.
• the second air intake port 1721 is disposed on the rear surface 132 of the first chamber 13, it may not significantly affect air circulation and object processing in the second object processing room 138.
• the second air intake port 1721 may be disposed close to the rear surface 132 of the first chamber 13 and the second air discharge port 1723 may be disposed close to the partition 5 for air circulation and object processing.
• the second air discharge port 1723 may function as an air curtain to prevent fluids in the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 from being mixed with each other when the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 are integrated.
• the volume of the second object processing room 138 is larger than the volume of the first object processing room 137.
• object processing in the second object processing room 138 may be inefficient.
• a controller (not shown) may be provided to control output power of the blower fan in a second circulation mode for circulating air in the second object processing room 138 to be higher than in a first circulation mode for circulating air in the first object processing room, as described below.
• the first chamber left side surface 133 may include a first left side surface 1331 provided in the first object processing room 137, and a second left side surface 1332 provided in the second object processing room 138.
• the first left side surface 1331 may protrude toward the right side surface 134 so as to be stepped as it extends from the inlet 11 toward the rear of the first chamber 13.
• the first left side surface 1331 may include a left inclined surface 1331a that is inclined such that the width of the first chamber decreases as it extends from the inlet 11 toward the second object processing room, a left extension surface 1331b extending such that the width of the first chamber increases as it extends from an end of the left inclined surface 1331a, and a left circulation surface 1331c extending from an end of the left extension surface 1331b toward the second left side surface 1332.
• the first chamber right side surface 134 may include a first right side surface 1341 disposed in the first object processing room 137 and a second right side surface 1342 disposed in the second object processing room 138.
• the first right side surface 1341 may protrude toward the left side surface 133 so as to be stepped as it extends from the inlet 11 toward the rear of the first chamber 13.
• the first right side surface 1341 may include a right inclined surface 1341a that is inclined such that the width of the first chamber decreases as it extends from the inlet 11 toward the second object processing room, a right extension surface 1341b extending such that the width of the first chamber increases as it extends from an end of the right inclined surface 1341a, and a right circulation surface 1341c extending from an end of the right extension surface 1341b toward the second right side surface 1342.
• This structure may form steps, such that the width between the side surfaces 1331 and 1341 of the first chamber in the first object processing room 137 may decrease by the inclined surfaces 1331a and 1341a of the first object processing room 137 as the side surfaces extend from the inlet 11 toward the rear of the first chamber 13, and then increase again along the extension surfaces 1331b and 1341b and the circulation surfaces 1331c and 1341c.
• the inclined surfaces 1331a and 1341a may be coupled to the first shelf 81 of the shelf unit 8 disposed in the first object processing room.
• the first air port 171 may be provided in a space between the circulation surfaces 1331c and 1341c.
• the side surfaces 1331 and 1341 may be stepped by the inclined surfaces 1331a and 1341a and the extension surfaces 1331b and 1341b.
• the first air port may be provided in a space between the left circulation surface 1331c and the right circulation surface 1341c.
• the first air port may be provided between the stepped surfaces of the first chamber 13, specifically, between the left circulation surface 1331c and the right circulation surface 1341c.
• one of the first air intake port 1711 and the first air discharge port 1713 may be disposed in a stepped space defined by the left extension surface 1331b and the left circulation surface 1331c, and the other one may be disposed in a stepped space defined by the right extension surface 1341b and the right circulation surface 1341c.
• a stepped space by which at least a portion of the first port 171 is hidden based on the inlet 11 is formed, and thus a path along which air flowing out through the first object processing room 137 may be formed. Thereby, air circulation may be effectively performed inside the first object processing room 137.
• the first chamber 13 has a trapezoidal shape such that a space between the left inclined surface 1331a and the right inclined surface 1341a is gradually narrowed as it extends toward the rear of the first chamber, or is gradually widened as it extends toward the front of the first chamber.
• air may flow more effectively from the space between the left circulation surface 1331c and the right circulation surface 1341c, in which the first air port is provided, toward the space between the left inclined surface 1331a and the right inclined surface 1341a.
• the width of the first chamber 13 increases gradually as the first chamber extends from the rear of the first object processing room 137 toward the inlet 11, a pressure difference may be formed between the rear and front of the first object processing room 137, and as a result, air circulation in the front-to-back direction may operate smoothly in the first object processing room 137.
• the first shelf 81 coupled to the inclined surfaces 1331a and 1341a may also have a trapezoidal shape having a width increasing as it extends toward the inlet 11, such that the shape corresponds to the space between the inclined surfaces. This shape of the first shelf 81 may allow a user who sees an object from the outside of the cabinet 1 to readily recognize the object placed and displayed on the first shelf 81.
• FIG. 7 is a plan view of a circulator viewed from above.
• FIG. 8-(a) is a front perspective view of the circulator.
• FIG. 8-(b) is a rear perspective view of the circulator.
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the circulator viewed from below.
• FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the circulator.
• FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view along a width direction (Y-axis direction) with respect to a regeneration flow path of the circulator.
• FIG. 12 is a partial view illustrating a regeneration flow path and draining of water from the regeneration flow path according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
• the circulator 3 is provided inside the second chamber 15 to circulate air inside the first chamber 13.
• the air introduced from the first chamber 13 into the circulator 3 may be dehumidified and filtered while flowing along the circulator 3 and then introduced back into the first chamber 13.
• the circulator 3 may include the connection duct 31 through which the circulating air passes, an air conditioner 32 provided in the connection duct 31 to circulate and process air, air intake ducts 35 and 36 arranged to introduce air from the first chamber 13 into the connection duct 31, and air discharge ducts 37 and 38 arranged to discharge the air from the connection duct 31 to the first chamber 13.
• connection duct 31 may include a hub body 311 on which the air conditioner 32 is seated.
• connection duct 31 may further include a replacement body 312 arranged to be moveable from the hub body 311 to be withdrawn from the lower panel 121b of the cabinet 1 (see FIG. 2-(b) ). Details of the replacement body 312 are described below.
• connection duct 31 may include a hub cover 313 (see FIG. 10 ) covering the hub body 311 and the replacement body 312.
• the hub cover is arranged to cover the hub body 311 and the replacement body 312.
• the air conditioner 32 may be disposed in an inner space of the connection duct 31 to allow air to flow along the inner space of the connection duct 31.
• the connection duct 31 may be defined in a broad sense to include the air conditioner 32.
• the air conditioner 32 may include a blower fan 321 configured to circulate air, a heater 323 configured to heat flowing air, and an air processor 325 configured to process the flowing air.
• the blower fan 321 may be disposed inside the connection duct 31 to form a pressure difference to circulate the air.
• the blower fan 321 may introduce air from the first chamber into the circulator 3, and discharge air from the circulator 3 into the first chamber 13.
• the heater 323 may be provided in the connection duct 31 to heat the air passing through the connection duct 31.
• the heater is provided to increase the temperature inside the first chamber 13 or to regenerate the air processor 325, which will be described later.
• the air processor may be disposed inside the connection duct and may process flowing air.
• the air processor may include a material that adsorbs and removes moisture or contaminants from the air, such as a porous material, for example, zeolite or activated carbon.
• a porous material for example, zeolite or activated carbon.
• the air processor is not necessarily limited thereto, and is not particularly limited to the material described above as long as the air processor is configured to process air inside the first chamber 13.
• processing of air should be understood as a comprehensive concept that includes dehumidification of removing moisture from air, deodorization of removing odor particles from air, and purification or filtration of filtering out or adsorbing contaminant particles from air.
• dehumidification of removing moisture from air
• deodorization of removing odor particles from air
• purification or filtration of filtering out or adsorbing contaminant particles from air.
• the volume of the second chamber (machine room) 15 may be reduced compared to a case where a heat pump including a separate refrigerant circulation flow path is provided.
• the air conditioner 32 may be arranged such that the blower fan 321 is disposed upstream of the heater 323 and the heater 323 is disposed upstream of the air processor 325.
• the heater 323 may be disposed closer to the air processor 325 than to the blower fan. This is intended to supply heat emitted from the heater to the air processor without heat loss.
• connection duct 31 may provide a passage through which a first flow path (see FIG. 13 ) in which air in the first object processing room 137 circulates, a second flow path (see FIG. 14 ) in which air in the second object processing room circulates, and a third flow path (see FIG. 15 ) in which air inside the connection duct 31 circulates along a regeneration duct 39 may extend in common.
• the air of the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 may be managed while circulating therethrough individually by one connection duct 31 provided with an air conditioner.
• connection duct 31 may include an inlet hole 31a (see FIG. 10 ) into which air is introduced from the first chamber, a discharge hole 31b (see FIG. 10 ) through which air is discharged from the connection duct, and a regeneration hole 31c (see FIG. 12 ) through which air is introduced into the connection duct via the regeneration duct 39, which will be described later.
• the inlet hole 31a may be disposed closer to the circulation fan 321 than to the air processor 325.
• the inlet hole 31a may be arranged to face the circulation fan 321.
• the air inside the first chamber 13 may be introduced into the inlet hole 31a without any flow loss caused by bending or curving of a flow path.
• the discharge hole 31b may be disposed closer to the air processor 325 than to the circulation fan 321, and may be arranged to face the air processor 325 to minimize the loss of the flow path.
• the air intake ducts 35 and 36 may include the first intake duct 35 allowing the first object processing room 137 and the inlet hole 31a to communicate with each other, and the second intake duct 36 allowing the second object processing room 138 and the inlet hole 31a to communicate with each other.
• the first intake duct 35 may include a first intake duct body 351 communicating with the connection duct through the inlet hole 31a, and a first intake duct guide 353 extending from the first intake duct body 351 toward the first object processing room 137 and connected to the first air intake port 1711.
• the first intake duct guide 353 may extend upward from an end of the first intake duct body 351 to guide air introduced through the first air intake port 1711 to the first intake duct body 351, as shown in the drawings.
• the first intake duct body 351 may provide a flow path along which air introduced from the first intake duct body 351 moves to the inlet hole 31a.
• the second intake duct 36 may include a second intake duct body 361 communicating with the connection duct through the inlet hole, and a first intake duct guide 353 extending from the second intake duct body 361 toward the second object processing room and connected to the second air intake port.
• the second intake duct guide 363 may extend upward from an end of the second intake duct body 361.
• the second intake duct guide 363 may have an end connected to the second air intake port 1721 and arranged in parallel to a width direction of the first chamber 13 in the same shape as the second air intake port 1721.
• a second intake duct guide hole 363a may be formed at an end of the second intake duct guide 363 on one side and may communicate with the second air intake port 1721.
• a widthwise length of the second intake duct guide 363 may be narrowed as the second intake duct guide 363 extends from the one end to the opposite end provided with the second intake duct body 361 or from an upper end of the second intake duct guide 363 downward.
• This shape may enable air inside the second object processing room 138 to be sucked in widely and uniformly.
• the width of a flow path may be gradually reduced along a flow direction of air, and thus air may stably flow. Thereby, occurrence of turbulent flow in an intake process of air may be minimized.
• the air discharge ducts 37 and 38 may include a first discharge duct 37 allowing the discharge hole 31b to communicate with the first object processing room and a second discharge duct 38 allowing the discharge hole 31b to communicate with the second object processing room.
• the first discharge duct 37 may provide a space through which air discharged from the connection duct 31 through the discharge hole 31b is introduced into the first object processing room.
• the first discharge duct 37 may include a first discharge duct body 371 providing a space through which air discharged from the connection duct 31 through the discharge hole 31b flows, and a first discharge duct guide 373 extending from the first discharge duct body 371 toward the first object processing room and connected to the first air discharge port 1713.
• a first discharge duct guide hole 373a may be formed at an end of one side (downstream) of the first discharge duct guide 373 and may communicate with the first air discharge port 1713.
• the first discharge duct guide 373 may extend upward from an end of the first discharge duct body 371 toward the first air discharge port 1713.
• the second discharge duct 38 may provide a space through which air discharged from the connection duct 31 through the discharge hole 31b is introduced into the space.
• the second discharge duct 38 may include a second discharge duct body 381 providing a space through which air discharged from the connection duct 31 through the discharge hole 31b flows, and a second discharge duct guide 383 extending from the second discharge duct body 381 toward the second object processing room and connected to the second air discharge port 1723.
• the second discharge duct guide 383 may extend upward from an end of the second discharge duct 38 toward the second air discharge port 1723.
• a second discharge duct guide hole 383a may be formed at an end of one side (downstream) of the second discharge duct guide 383, and the second discharge duct guide 383 may communicate with the second air discharge port 1723 through the second discharge duct guide hole 383a.
• One end of the second discharge duct guide 383 connected to the second air discharge port 1723 may have the same shape as the second air discharge port 1723 and arranged in parallel to a width direction of the first chamber 13.
• a widthwise length of the second discharge duct guide 383 may be narrowed as of the second discharge duct guide extends from the one end of the second discharge duct guide 383 toward the opposite end thereof provided with the second intake duct body or from an upper end of the second discharge duct guide 383 downward.
• the second discharge duct may allow air discharged from the connection duct 31 to be uniformly supplied to the second object processing room 138. Further, as the width of the flow path of the second discharge duct 38 is gradually narrowed in a flow direction of air, air may flow stably.
• air may be discharged uniformly even when the second air discharge port is arranged to be wide in a width direction.
• the circulator 3 may further include the regeneration duct 39 arranged to introduce air discharged to the outside of the connection duct 31 from the connection duct 31 back into the connection duct 31.
• the regeneration duct 39 may be provided inside the second chamber 15, may have one end connected to the discharge hole 31b and an opposite end communicating with the regeneration hole 31c to form a closed circulation flow path along which air discharged from the connection duct 31 through the discharge hole 31b is introduced back into the regeneration hole 31c.
• the regeneration duct 39 is provided to regenerate the air processor 325 in a regeneration process.
• the regeneration duct 39 may include a first regeneration duct body 391 communicating with the discharge hole 31b and having an inclined section inclined upward or downward, a second regeneration duct body 392 extending from the first regeneration duct 391 and having an inclined section inclined upward or downward, and a third regeneration duct body 393 extending from the second regeneration duct 392 to communicate with the regeneration hole 31c.
• the first regeneration duct body 391 may include a first inclined portion 3911 having one end communicating with the discharge hole 31b, the first inclined portion including an inclined section inclined upward or downward, and a flat portion 3913 extending toward a side surface of the second chamber from a point at which the inclined section of the first inclined portion 3911 ends.
• the first inclined portion 3911 may be inclined such that at least a portion of the regeneration duct 39 is disposed above or below the first air intake port 1711 or the second air intake port 1721.
• the first inclined portion 3911 is inclined upward, and the flat portion extends from the first inclined portion towards a side surface of the second chamber.
• at least a portion of the first regeneration duct body 391 is disposed above the second intake duct.
• the space efficiency of the interior of the second chamber 15 may be maximized by the three-dimensional structure in which the first regeneration duct body 391 and the second intake duct 36 at least partially overlap each other in a vertical direction.
• the size of the space defined by a duct flow path in the second chamber 15 may be further reduced, and the space of the first chamber 13 may be further increased.
• the second regeneration duct body 392 may include an extension 3921 that extends from the flat portion 3913 of the first regeneration duct body 391 and has one side connected to the flat portion 3913 and an opposite side contacting the side surface of the second chamber 15, a second inclined portion 3923 that extends from the extension 3921 and has an inclined section inclined in an opposite direction to a direction of the inclined section of the first inclined portion 3911, and a drainage portion 3925 including a drain hole 3924a allowing condensate condensed in the second inclined portion 3923 to be discharged to a tray 394, which will be described later.
• the extension 3921 may extend from the flat portion 3913 toward the side surface of the second chamber to contact the side surface of the second chamber.
• the second inclined portion 3923 is inclined from an end of the extension 3921 in an opposite direction to the first inclined portion, and extends in parallel to the second chamber 15.
• the height of the second inclined portion 3923 may be equal to the height of the first inclined portion 3911, and thus the discharge hole 31b and the regeneration hole 31c may be raised to the same height. As the discharge hole 31b and the regeneration hole 31c are raised to the same height, a friction or flow loss that may occur during flow inside the connection duct may be minimized.
• the drainage portion 3925 is provided at the end of the second inclined portion to drain the condensate to the tray 394.
• the second inclined portion 3923 is constantly in contact with the side surface of the second chamber. As described below, when air heated through the heater circulates along the regeneration duct 39, the air may be condensed by the second regeneration duct body 392 including the second inclined portion 3923.
• the condensate discharged from the air condensed while passing through the second inclined portion 3923 may flow to the third regeneration duct body 393 along an inclination.
• first inclined portion 3911 described above may be inclined upward to be positioned above the air intake ducts 35 and 36, and the second inclined portion 3923 may be inclined downward to guide the condensate to the third regeneration duct body 393.
• the side surface of the second chamber 15 refers to one surface inside the second chamber 15, and should be understood as including the front and rear surfaces of the second chamber 15 as well as an inner circumferential surface of the cabinet 1.
• the third regeneration duct body 393 is bent at the end of the second regeneration duct body 392 to extend to the regeneration hole 31c.
• the third regeneration duct body 393 may include a drain hole formed in a lower portion thereof in a penetrating manner.
• the condensate generated by condensation in the second regeneration duct body 392 may be drained downward through the drain hole 3924a in the third regeneration duct body 393.
• the regeneration duct 39 may include the tray 394 disposed below the drain hole 3924a to collect condensate drained from the third regeneration duct body 393.
• the condensate collected in the tray 394 may naturally evaporate.
• the tray 394 may be arranged to be withdrawable through a tray outlet (not shown) included in the cabinet 1, and thus a user may directly discard water collected in the tray 394.
• the tray may be disposed below the connection duct 31 (see FIG. 12 ).
• connection duct 31 may be seated on a bottom surface 155 of the second chamber 15.
• the tray may be disposed at a position lower than that of the bottom surface 155 of the second chamber 15 by a predetermined distance S, and may thus be disposed between the bottom surface 155 of the second chamber 15 and the bottom surface of the cabinet 1.
• condensate may be drained smoothly. Further, a space in which the condensate is drained (a space between the bottom surface 155 of the second chamber and the bottom surface 115 of the cabinet) and a space (the second chamber 15) in which air circulates may be separated from each other. Accordingly, the second chamber may be managed more hygienically.
• air heated by the heater and passed through the air processor 325 may be introduced into the first regeneration duct body 391 and circulate along the second regeneration duct body 392 (see FIG. 12 ).
• the air flowing to the second regeneration duct body 392 may contact the side surface of the second chamber along the extension 3921.
• the air may be condensed by heat exchange with the side surface of the second chamber while moving downward along the second inclined portion.
• the condensate generated while the air flows along the second inclined portion 3923 may be drained down below the second chamber through a drain hole 4924a of the drainage portion 3925 and collected in the tray 394.
• Air from which condensate is removed while flowing along the second inclined portion may be introduced into the connection duct 31 through the regeneration hole 31c while flowing along the third regeneration duct body 393.
• the lifetime of the air processor 325 may be increased through a regeneration mode for operating the third flow path in which the air processor 325 is regenerated.
• fouling may occur due to foreign matter such as dust adsorbed on the air processor, causing the pores to become clogged.
• the filtration performance of the air processor may be lowered, and the lifetime of the air processor may be reduced.
• connection duct 31 may include a connection body 31 including a seating surface 3111 on which one of components of the air conditioner 32 is to be seated, and the replacement body 312 including an attachment surface 3121 providing a space in which the air processor 325 is detachably seated.
• the air processor may be removably coupled to the attachment surface 3121 of the replacement body 312.
• the replacement body 312 may include a replacement housing 3123 defining a portion of an outer appearance of the attachment surface 3121, on which the air processor is detachably seated, and the connection duct 31 and a replacement panel 3125 extending from the replacement housing 3123 and exposed to an outside of the cabinet 1 through the replacement hole (see FIG. 7 ).
• the replacement housing 3123 may extend from the outer circumferential surface of the connection body 531 to prevent air inside the connection duct 31 from leaking to the outside.
• the replacement panel 3125 may have a shape corresponding to the replacement hole (not shown) to fill the replacement hole.
• the replacement hole may also be formed in the lower panel 121b of the cabinet 1.
• the replacement panel 3125 may be arranged to have a minimum step difference from the lower panel 121b of the cabinet 1 and may be exposed through the replacement hole to constitute a portion of the lower panel 121b (see FIG. 2-(b) ).
• the user may pull the replacement panel toward a front surface of the cabinet to expose the air processor 325 mounted on the attachment surface 3121 to the outside of the cabinet 1 through the replacement hole.
• the user may separate the air processor 325 in the exposed position from the attachment surface 3121 and mount a new air processor 325 on the attachment surface 3121.
• the user may push the replacement body 312 toward the rear surface of the cabinet 1 such that the replacement panel 3125 is placed on the same line as the lower panel 121b.
• the air processor 325 may be arranged inside the connection duct 31.
• the user may easily replace the air processor 325 without a need to disassemble the circulator 3.
• the circulator 3 includes a hub 33 disposed to allow the intake duct, the discharge duct and the regeneration duct to communicate with the inlet hole or the discharge hole (see FIGS. 9 and 11 ).
• the hub 33 may include a first hub 331 allowing the first intake duct 35 and the second intake duct 36 to communicate with the inlet hole 31a, and a second hub 332 allowing the discharge hole 31b to communicate with the first discharge duct 37 and allowing the second discharge duct 38 to communicate with the regeneration duct (first regeneration duct body).
• the first hub 33 may be disposed upstream of the inlet hole 31a, and may be disposed downstream of the first intake duct 35 and the second intake duct 36.
• the first hub 33 may form a three-direction flow path by defining a space in which the first intake duct 35, the second intake duct 36, and the inlet hole 31a (or the connection duct 31) communicate with each other.
• air introduced from the first intake duct 35 and the second intake duct 36 may be integrated by the first hub 331 and communicate with the inlet hole 31a.
• the second hub 33 may be disposed downstream of the discharge hole 31b, and may be disposed upstream of the first discharge duct 35, the second discharge duct 36, and the regeneration duct 39.
• the second hub 33 may define a four-way flow path allowing the first discharge duct 37, the second discharge duct 38, the regeneration duct 39, and the discharge hole 31b (or the connection duct 31) to communicate with each other.
• air discharged from the discharge hole 31b may be branched in the second hub 332 and may communicate with the first discharge duct 37, the second discharge duct 38 and the regeneration duct 39.
• the circulator 3 may further include a flow path switcher 4 provided in the hub 33 to allow the connection duct 31 to communicate with one of several ducts (see FIG. 10 ).
• the flow path switcher 4 may include a first switcher 41 provided in the first hub 331 to selectively enable the first intake duct 35 and the second intake duct 36 to communicate with the connection duct through the inlet hole 31a or block the first discharge duct 37 and the second discharge duct 38 from the inlet hole.
• the flow path switcher 4 may further include a second switcher 42 provided in the second hub 332 to selectively enable one of the first discharge duct, the second discharge duct, and the regeneration duct to communicate with the connection duct through the discharge hole.
• the flow path switcher 4 may selectively switch one of the first flow path, second flow path and third flow path, which will be described later, by the control of a controller (not shown). An operation of the flow path switcher 4 and a structure switching to a corresponding flow path will be described below.
• FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a flow of air in a circulator along a first flow path.
• FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a flow of air in the circulator along a second flow path.
• FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a flow of air in the circulator along a third flow path.
• the circulator 3 may include a first flow path (see FIG. 13 ) including the connection duct 31 and arranged to circulate air from the first object processing room 137, and a second flow path (see FIG. 14 ) including the connection duct 31 and arranged to circulate air from the second object processing room 138.
• the first flow path is a path along which air from the first object processing room is introduced through the first air intake port 1711, flows along the first intake duct 35, the connection duct 31, and the first discharge duct 37, and then flows back to the first object processing room 137 through the first air discharge port 1713 to circulate.
• the first flow path may mean a duct structure in which air from the first object processing room 137 is circulated by the circulator 3 and may be defined to include the first intake duct 35, the connection duct 31, and the first discharge duct 37.
• the first switcher 41 may be controlled to allow the first intake duct 35 to communicate with the inlet hole 31a
• the second switcher 42 may be controlled to allow the discharge hole to communicate with the first discharge duct 37.
• a state in which the first switcher 41 and the second switcher 42 of the flow path switcher 4 are arranged to allow only circulation of air through the first flow path may be defined as a first circulation mode (i.e., the configuration of the flow path switcher 4 based on FIG. 13 ).
• the second flow path may be defined as a path along which air from the second object processing room 138 is introduced into the second chamber through the second air intake port 1721, flows through the second intake duct 36, the connection duct 31, and the second discharge duct 38, and flows back to the second object processing room through the second air discharge port 1723 to circulate.
• the second flow path may be a duct structure in which air from the second object processing room 138 circulates in the second chamber 15 and may be defined to include the second intake duct 36, the connection duct 31, and the second discharge duct 38.
• the flow path switcher 4 may be controlled by the controller such that the first switcher 41 allows the second intake duct 36 to communicate with the inlet hole 31a and the second switcher 42 allows the discharge hole 31b to communicate with the first discharge duct 37.
• a state in which the first switcher 41 and the second switcher 42 of the flow path switcher 4 are arranged or controlled to allow only circulation of air through the second flow path may be defined as a second circulation mode (which means the configuration of the flow path switcher 4 based on FIG. 14 ).
• Each of the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 may include various sensor units (not shown) configured to measure one or more of temperature, humidity, and contamination level.
• the controller may calculate air quality in the spaces by calculating the temperature, humidity, and contamination level of each space, and first process air in a space in an adverse condition for an object between the air in the first object processing room 137 or the air in the second object processing room 138 based on the calculated air quality.
• a handbag made of leather, which is vulnerable to humidity or contaminants, is accommodated in the first object processing room 137, and clothing made of general cotton is accommodated in the second object processing room.
• the controller may process the air in the first object processing room 137 with priority over the air in the second object processing room.
• the controller may execute the first circulation mode first. Then, when the air quality in the first object processing room 137 reaches an appropriate level, the second circulation mode may be executed.
• the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 may be controlled under the same conditions, but only a flow path circulation time may be varied, or the modes may be implemented alternately.
• the controller may process the air in the first object processing room 137 or the second object processing room 138 under different conditions based on the values calculated by the sensor unit.
• a leather handbag that is vulnerable to humidity or contaminants is accommodated in the first object processing room 137 and that general cotton clothing is accommodated in the second object processing room.
• the leather handbag is generally more vulnerable to temperature and humidity conditions than the cotton clothing.
• the controller may increase the output power of the circulation fan to quickly process the first object processing room 137.
• the controller may control the air conditioner to lower the output power of the circulation fan compared to the case where the second circulation mode is executed.
• the controller may increase the output power of the circulation fan in the second circulation mode beyond the output power in the first circulation mode.
• the circulator 3 may include a first flow path including the connection duct 31 and arranged to circulate air from the first object processing room, and a third flow path including the connection duct 31 and arranged to circulate air from the connection duct inside the second chamber.
• the third flow path may be defined as a path along which air discharged from the connection duct 31 through the discharge hole 31b circulates by flowing along the regeneration duct and then flowing back to the connection duct through the regeneration hole 31c.
• the third flow path may be a duct structure in which the air from the connection duct 31 performs a closed circulation in the second chamber, and may be defined to include the connection duct 31 and the regeneration duct 39.
• the first switcher 41 may be controlled to block the first intake duct 35, the second intake duct 36, and the inlet hole 31a, and the second switcher 42 may be controlled to align the discharge hole 31b and the regeneration duct 39 to communicate with each other.
• a state in which the first switcher 41 and the second switcher 42 of the flow path switcher 4 are disposed or aligned to allow only circulation of air through the third flow path may be defined as a regeneration mode (which means the configuration of the flow path switcher 4 based on FIG. 15 ).
• the controller may control the air conditioner 32 to operate the heater while controlling the flow path switcher 4 in the regeneration mode.
• the regeneration mode allows heated air to pass through the air processor 325, thereby evaporating moisture adsorbed on the air processor 325 or removing contaminants.
• Air passing through the air processor 325 may be circulated along the regeneration flow path.
• air circulating along the regeneration flow path through the regeneration mode may be condensed by heat exchange with the inner circumference surface of the second chamber 15 (see FIG. 12 ).
• the condensate may be drained into the tray 394.
• the partition 5 of the present disclosure is arranged to slide inside the first chamber 13 to partition the inside of the first chamber 13 into a first object processing room and a second object processing room or to allow the object processing rooms to communicate with each other.
• partitioning the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 should be understood as meaning arranging the partition between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138, which may include sealing the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 to prevent any fluid from flowing between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138, blocking objects from moving between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138, and covering the second object processing room 138 such that the second object processing room 138 is not exposed to the outside of the inlet 11.
• first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 should be understood as meaning a structure that does not partition the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138, including connecting the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 such that a fluid flows between the object processing rooms, not disposing the partition in the space between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138, integrating the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 to form the internal space of the first chamber 13, expanding the first object processing room 137 or the second object processing room 138 to form the internal space of the first chamber 13, and arranging the partition to only partially partition the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138.
• the partition may partition the first chamber 13 into the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138, depending on the user's intention or the objects to be placed inside the first chamber 13.
• the interior of the first chamber may be partitioned into front and back parts to divide the interior into a showcase space and a storage space.
• the flow path between the first air port 171 and the second air port 172 may be partitioned.
• the partition 5 may partition the first chamber 13 into the first object processing room 137 with air circulating through a first flow path and the second object processing room 138 with air circulating through a second flow path.
• the partition 5 may be slidably moved between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 by the guide assembly 7 (see FIG. 16 ) to separate or connect the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138.
• the partition 5 may include a separation body 51 (see FIG. 16 ) disposed between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 to separate the space, and a connection body 53 (see FIG. 18 ) connecting the separation body 51 to the guide assembly 7 such that the separation body 51 slides along the guide assembly 7.
• the separation body 51 is not particularly limited as long as it is disposed between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 to partition the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138.
• the separation body 51 may include a plurality of interconnected separation structures 511 (see FIG. 29 ).
• the separation body 51 may include a curtain.
• the separation body 51 may be slidable or movable by the guide assembly 7 to separate or connect the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 to communicate with each other.
• the separation body 51 may be foldable to partition the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 when unfolded and to connect the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 to communicate with each other when folded.
• the structure of the separation body 51 is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of partitioning both spaces.
• the separation body 51 may be connected to a movable part 75 of the guide assembly 7 by the connection body 511 to slide along a guide rail of the guide assembly 7.
• connection body 511 may include a first connection body 531 extending upwardly of the separation body 51, and a second connection body 533 extending from an end of the first connection body toward the guide rail 74 and coupled to the movable part 75 (see FIG. 19 ).
• the partition 5 may further include a protrusion 55 (see FIG. 29-(b) ) provided on a lower portion of the separation body to be inserted into the slide groove 1357, as described later.
• FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a guide assembly according to a first embodiment.
• FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the guide assembly according to the first embodiment.
• FIG. 18 is a partial enlarged view of part C of FIG. 16 .
• FIG. 19 is a partial enlarged view of part D of FIG. 16 .
• FIGS. 16 to 19 illustrate the structure of a guide assembly and partition according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, but the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to any particular embodiment.
• the guide assembly 7 may include a mounting portion 71 coupled to an upper portion of the first chamber 13, a guide rail 74 seated on the mounting portion 71 to guide movement of the partition 5, and a movable part 75 arranged to slide along the guide rail 74.
• the mounting portion 71 may include a mounting base 711 providing a space where the guide rail 74 is seated and supporting movement of the partition 5, and a mounting cover 713 coupled to the upper surface 136 of the first chamber and coupled to the mounting base to support the mounting base 711.
• the mounting base 711 may include a mounting surface 7111 providing a space where the guide rail is seated, a support surface 7113 defining an outer peripheral surface of the mounting base 711, a coupling protrusion 7115 protruding from the mounting surface 7111 toward the mounting cover 713 and coupled to the mounting cover, and a shaft hole portion 71111 to formed through the mounting surface 711 in a penetrating manner to providing a space where a gear unit, which will be described later, is rotatably coupled to the shaft hole portion.
• the mounting surface 7111 may be formed in a shape penetrated at the center thereof as shown in the drawings, but the shape of the mounting surface 7111 is not limited thereto as long as it is capable of supporting the guide rail 74.
• the mounting surface 7111 may be shaped like a plate to allow the guide rail 74 to be seated on the edges thereof.
• air below the mounting surface 7111 may be effectively prevented from moving upward to flow between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138.
• the support surface 7113 is configured to support at least a portion of the partition 5.
• the support surface 7113 may support the rear surface of the partition 5 to support the partition 5 when the partition 5 is pressed to the rear side, thereby preventing the partition 5 from bending or breaking.
• the support surface 7113 may be rounded at each corner, which may allow the partition 5 to move smoothly without being caught by the corners of the mounting base 711.
• the coupling protrusion 71155 may protrude from the mounting surface 7111 toward the mounting cover 713 to allow the mounting surface 7111 and the mounting cover 713 to remain spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other.
• This coupling structure of the coupling protrusion 71155 allows the guide rail 74 to be disposed in the space between the mounting base 711 and the mounting cover 713.
• the mounting cover 713 may include a cover coupling portion 7131 coupled to the first chamber upper surface 136 and a cover extension 753 extending from the cover coupling portion 7131 toward the mounting base.
• the cover coupling portion 7131 may be coupled to the first chamber upper surface 136 using a method such as bolting.
• the coupling between the cover coupling portion 7131 and the first chamber upper surface 136 may support the partition and the guide assembly structure as a whole.
• the cover extension 7133 may extend to contact the mounting surface 7111. This arrangement may prevent internal air from flowing into a gap between the mounting cover 713 and the mounting base 711.
• the second connection body 533 (see FIG. 18 ) of the partition 5 may be disposed between the mounting base 711 and the mounting cover 713. This arrangement may effectively prevent lifting or sagging of the partition 5.
• the guide assembly 7 of the present disclosure may further include a guide frame 72 arranged to surround the mounting base 711 at a predetermined spacing from the support 7113 of the mounting base.
• the guide rail 74 is supported on the mounting surface 7111 and may guide movement of the partition.
• the guide rail 74 may include a separator rail 741 disposed to extend across a space between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138, and an accommodation rail 743 extending from the separation rail 741 toward the first object processing room 137 or the second object processing room 138.
• the separation rail 741 may be disposed to extend across the space between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 to allow the partition 5 to move between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138.
• the partition 5 may be disposed on the separation rail 741 to separate the first object processing room 137 from the second object processing room 138.
• the accommodation rail 743 is disposed at an end of the separation rail 741 towards the first object processing room 137 or the second object processing room 138 to allow the partition 5 moving along the separation rail 741 to move towards the first object processing room 137 or the second object processing room 138.
• the accommodation rail 743 is disposed to extend from both ends of the separation rail 741 towards the second object processing room 138. As the partition 5 moves along the separation rail and the accommodation rail, at least a portion of the partition 5 may move from the space between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 into the space inside the second object processing room 138.
• the accommodation rail 743 may include a first accommodation rail 743a extending in parallel with the first chamber left side surface 133 on one side of the separation rail 741, and a second accommodation rail 743b extending in parallel with the first chamber right side surface 134 on the opposite side of the separation rail 741.
• the partition 5 may slide along the first accommodation rail or the second accommodation rail 733b from the separation rail 741 to communicatively connect the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138.
• a lower portion of the movable part 75 is seated on the guide rail 74 such that the movable portion slides along the guide rail 74.
• the second connection body 533 of the partition 5 may be seated on and coupled to the movable part 75 (see FIG. 19 ). As the movable part 75 to which the partition 5 is coupled slides along the guide rail 74, the partition 5 may be guided and moved.
• the partition 5 may include a first movable body 75a seated on the guide rail 74 and coupled to the partition 5, and a second movable body 75b engaging with a gear belt part 76 having gear teeth.
• the movable part 75 may include a first movable body 75a seated on the guide rail 74 and couplable with the second connection body 533 of the partition 5, and a second movable body 75b engaging with the gear belt part 76, which will be described later.
• the movable part 75 may receive the rotational force of the gear belt part 76 by the second movable body 75b, and may divert the rotational force by the first movable body 75a in a direction parallel to the guide rail 74.
• the second moving body 75b which is engaged with the gear belt part 76, may receive the rotational motion of a drive part, which will be described later, and the first movable body, which is seated on the guide rail 74, may convert the rotational motion into a translational motion.
• the movable part 75 may be divided into a separating movable part 751 seated on the separation rail 741 and an accommodating movable part 753 seated on the accommodation rail.
• the accommodating movable part 75 may include a first accommodating movable part 75 that moves along the first accommodation rail and a second accommodating movable part 75 that moves along the second accommodation rail 733b.
• the separating movable part 751 and the accommodating movable part 753 may be structurally identical, only separated based on the positions of the movable parts.
• both the separating movable part 751 and the accommodating movable part 753 may include the first separation body 75a and the second separation body 75b described above.
• the separating movable part 75 may cause the partition to move along the space between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138.
• the accommodating movable part 75 may cause the partition to move toward the first object processing room 137 or the second object processing room 138.
• a plurality of movable parts may be coupled to one partition 5 (see FIGS. 16 and 22 ).
• the partition and the opposite end of the partition must each be coupled with a movable part to allow the partition to move smoothly along the guide rail.
• the partition may be coupled to only one movable part, but this may cause the partition to sag.
• the accommodation rail 743 is not connected to the separation rail 741 at both ends, as shown in FIG. 17 , it may be difficult to move the separating movable part 751 to the accommodation rail 743 and the accommodating movable part 753 to the separation rail 741, respectively. This is because the rails may not be continuous in the upper space.
• the partition 5 may be difficult to move from the separation rail 741 to the accommodation rail 743 and from the accommodation rail 743 to the separation rail 741.
• the partition 5 may slide smoothly from the separation rail 741 to the accommodating rail 743 and vice versa.
• the partition 5 may be disposed between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138, separating the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 (see FIG. 3-(a) ).
• the partition may be moved such that the accommodating movable part is moved away from the separation rail, at least a portion of the partition may be accommodated in the first object processing room 137 or the second object processing room 138, thereby connecting or integrating the first object processing room and the second object processing room (see FIG. 3-(b) ).
• the partition 5 may separate the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 when the partition 5 is slid along the separation rail 741 from the accommodation rail 743, and may communicatively connect the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 when the partition 5 is slid along the separation rail 741 from the accommodation rail 743.
• the guide frame 72 may define a space spaced apart from the support by a predetermined distance, such that the partition 5 moves by the predetermined spacing distance.
• the partition 5 may be arranged to move in the spaced-apart space between the mounting base 711 and the guide rail 74.
• the partition 5 may be arranged such that the first connection body 531 is guided along the space between the guide rail 74 and the guide frame 72.
• the partition 5 may separate or connect the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 as it is moved along the guide rail 74 in the first chamber 13.
• the guide assembly 7 may include a gear belt part 76 extending in parallel with the guide rail 74 and having gear teeth formed on one surface thereof, a plurality of gear units 77 rotatably coupled to the mounting surface 711 and engaging with the gear belt part 76, and a drive part 78 providing a rotational force to at least one of the gear units 77.
• the partition 5 may be easily moved by the drive part 78, controlled by the controller (not shown), by a desired distance or in a desired direction, without requiring the user to manually move the partition 5.
• the gear belt part 76 is provided with gear teeth. Thus, it may transmit a rotational force by connecting at least two of the gear units 77 with each other, and may transmit a rotational force to the movable part 75 by engage with the second movable body 75b of the movable part 75.
• the gear units 77 may be rotatably coupled to shaft holes provided at each corner of The mounting base 711.
• the gear unit 77 may include a gear shaft 77a rotatably inserted into the shaft hole 71111, a bearing 77b inserted into the shaft hole to support rotation of the gear shaft, and a gear body 77c rotatably coupled to the gear shaft 77a and engaged with the gear belt part 76.
• the drive part 78 may provide rotational force to one of the gear units.
• the gear unit directly connected to the drive part 78 may be driven by a driving shaft, and the gear units receiving rotational force from the main drive shaft via the gear belt part 76 may be driven by driven shafts.
• the plurality of gear units 77 of the guide assembly 7 may include a first gear unit 771, a second gear unit 772, a third gear unit 773, and a fourth gear unit 774.
• the first gear unit 771 may include a first gear shaft 7711 rotatably inserted into a first shaft hole 71111 provided in the mounting base 711, a first bearing 7712 arranged to support rotation of the first gear shaft 7711, and a first gear body 7713 rotatably coupled to the first gear shaft 7711 and engaged with the gear belt part 76.
• the second gear unit 772 may include a second gear shaft 7721 rotatably inserted into a second shaft hole 71112 provided in the mounting base 711, a second bearing 7722 arranged to support rotation of the second gear shaft 7721, and a second gear body 7723 rotatably coupled to the second gear shaft 7721 and engaged with the gear belt part 76.
• the third gear unit 771 may include a third gear shaft 7731 rotatably inserted into a third shaft hole 71113 provided in the mounting base 711, a third bearing 7732 arranged to support rotation of the third gear shaft 7731, and a third gear body 7733 rotatably coupled to the third gear shaft 7731 and engaged with the gear belt part 76.
• the fourth gear unit 774 may include a fourth gear shaft 7741 rotatably inserted into a fourth shaft hole 71114 provided in the mounting base 711, a fourth bearing 7742 arranged to support rotation of the fourth gear shaft 7741, and a fourth gear body 7713 rotatably coupled to the fourth gear shaft 7711 and engaged with the gear belt part 76.
• the first gear unit 771, the second gear unit 772, the third gear unit 773, and the fourth gear unit 774 are disposed along the guide rail 74. More specifically, the first to fourth gear units 771, 772, 773, and 774 may be provided adjacent to the point where the separation rail 741 and the accommodation rail 743 meet.
• the gear belt part 76 may be engaged with the first to fourth gear units 771, 772, 773, and 774, and may thus rotate in the same direction.
• the drive part 78 may be coupled to one of the first to fourth gear units to rotate the gear belt part 76.
• the drive part 78 may be connected to the second gear unit 77 to rotate the second gear unit 77, and the gear belt part 76 may cause the first gear unit 77, the third gear unit 77, and the fourth gear unit 77 to rotate at the same rotational speed and in the same direction as the second gear unit 77.
• the movable part 75 engaged with the gear belt part 76 may slide along the guide rail in accordance with the rotation of the gear belt part, thereby sliding the partition.
• the separation body 51 of the partition 5 may slide along the guide rail 74 in one direction.
• the separation body 51 of the partition 5 may slide along the guide rail 74 in the opposite direction.
• the partition 5 has one separation body 51, and thus slides in one direction or the opposite direction.
• the time required to completely communicatively connect the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 may be relatively longer than in the case where the partition 5 has two separation bodies 51. Even when the partition 5 is slid along the accommodation rail 743, a portion of the separation body 51 may remain disposed between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138.
• the embodiment described above may include a rear rail 749 disposed to face the accommodation rail such that the partition is fully accommodated inside the second object processing room 138 to face the rear surface 132 of the first chamber.
• the distance between the rear surface 132 of the first chamber and the rear rail may not be utilized, and the shelf unit 8 may be difficult to be disposed.
• FIG. 20 is a schematic view illustrating the movement of the partition in the first chamber according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 20-(a) is a view illustrating a case where the partition is disposed between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 to separate the two spaces (referred to as the "separation position").
• This space a is the space in which the partition 5 moves, and is provided with a sliding groove 1357 in the bottom surface 135.
• the second object processing room 138 may not be utilized as much as this length a, as described above.
• the partition 5 may be moved from the separation position to one side or the opposite side by the guide assembly 7 to allow the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 to communicate with each other.
• the partition 5 is movable to surround the perimeter of the first object processing room 137 or the second object processing room 138.
• FIG. 21-(a) is a projection view illustrating a partition disposed in a separation position by the guide assembly of a second embodiment of the present disclosure
• FIG. 21-(b) is a projection view illustrating the partition in an accommodation position by the guide assembly of the second embodiment of the present disclosure
• FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the guide assembly according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure
• FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the guide assembly according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure
• FIG. 24 is a partial enlarged view of part E of FIG. 22
• FIGS. 21 to 24 illustrate the partition 5 and the guide assembly 7 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.
• the description of the second embodiment of the present disclosure may duplicate the description of the first embodiment of the present disclosure above. Redundant description is omitted.
• the separation body 51 of the partition 5 may include a first separation body 51a (see FIG. 25 ) arranged to slide along the separation rail 741 and the first accommodation rail 733a, and a second separation body 51b (see FIG. 25 ) arranged to slide along the separation rail 741 and the second accommodation rail 733b.
• the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 may communicate with each other.
• the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 may be separated.
• the gear belt part 76 may be divided into a separation gear belt 761 disposed in parallel with the separation rail and engaged with the separating movable part, and an accommodation gear belt 763 disposed in parallel with the accommodation rail and engaged the accommodating movable part 75.
• the separation gear belt 763 may be divided into a first separation gear belt engaged with the first gear unit 77 and a second separation gear belt engaged with the second gear unit 77.
• the accommodation gear belt 763 may be divided into a first accommodation gear belt 763a disposed in parallel with the first accommodation rail 733a and a second accommodation gear belt 763b disposed in parallel with the second accommodation rail 733b.
• the movable part 75 may be divided into a first separating movable part engaged with the first separation gear belt, a second separating movable part engaged with the second separation gear belt, a first accommodating movable part engaged with the first accommodation gear belt, and a second accommodating movable part engaged with the second accommodation gear belt.
• the plurality of gear units 77 may include a first gear unit 771, a second gear unit 772, a third gear unit 773, a fourth gear unit 774, a fifth gear unit 775, and a sixth gear unit 776.
• the first gear unit 771 may include a first gear shaft 7711 rotatably inserted into the first shaft hole 71111 provided in the mounting base 711 adjacent to the separation rail, a first bearing 7712 arranged to support rotation of the first gear shaft 7711, a first gear body 7713 rotatably coupled to the first gear shaft 7711 and engaged with the gear belt part 76, and a first transmission gear 7715 rotatably coupled to the first gear shaft 7711.
• the second gear unit 772 may include a second gear shaft 7721 rotatably inserted into a second shaft hole 71112 provided in the mounting base 711, a second bearing 7722 arranged to support rotation of the second gear shaft 7721, a second gear body 7723 rotatably coupled to the second gear shaft 7721 and engaged with the gear belt part 76, and a second transmission gear 7725 rotatably coupled to the second gear shaft 7721.
• first gear body 771 and the second gear body 772 may be disposed side by side along the separation rail, and the first transmission gear 7715 and the second transmission gear 7725 are arranged to engage with each other such that the first gear body 77 and the second gear body 77 may rotate in opposite directions.
• the third gear unit 773 may include a third gear shaft 7731 rotatably inserted into the third shaft hole 71113 provided in the mounting base 711, a third bearing 7732 arranged to support rotation of the third gear shaft 7731, and a third gear body 7733 rotatably coupled to the third gear shaft 7731 and engaged with the gear belt part 76.
• the third gear unit 77 may be disposed in parallel with the first gear unit 77 along the separation rail 741 and be rotated by the first separation rail 741 in the same direction as the rotation of the first gear part 77.
• the third gear unit 77 may be provided on a portion of the separation rail bending toward the first accommodation rail.
• the fourth gear unit 774 may include a fourth gear shaft 7741 rotatably inserted into the fourth shaft hole 71114 provided in the mounting base 711, a first bearing 7742 arranged to support rotation of the fourth gear shaft 7741, and a fourth gear body 7743 rotatably coupled to the fourth gear shaft 7741 and engaged with the gear belt part 76.
• the fourth gear body 77 may be disposed in parallel with the second gear body 77 along the separation rail 741 and may be rotated by the second separation rail in the same direction as the rotation of the second gear body 77.
• the fourth gear unit 77 may be arranged adjacent to the bent portion extending from the separation rail to the second accommodation rail.
• the fifth gear unit 775 may include a first gear shaft 7711 rotatably inserted into the first shaft hole 71111 provided in the mounting base 711, a first bearing 7712 arranged to support rotation of the first gear shaft 7711, and a first gear body 7713 rotatably coupled to the first gear shaft 7711 and engaged with the gear belt part 76.
• the fifth gear unit 77 may be disposed in parallel with the third gear unit 77 along the first accommodation rail 733a, and may be rotated in the same direction as the third gear unit 77 by the first accommodation gear belt.
• the fifth gear unit 77 may be arranged adjacent to one side of the first accommodation rail spaced away from the separation rail 741.
• the sixth gear unit 776 may include a sixth gear shaft 7761 rotatably inserted into a sixth shaft hole 71116 provided in the mounting base 711, a sixth bearing 7762 arranged to support rotation of the sixth gear shaft 7761, and a sixth gear body 7763 rotatably coupled to the sixth gear shaft 7761 and engaged with the gear belt part 76.
• the sixth gear body 77 may be disposed in parallel with the fourth gear body 77 along the second accommodation rail 733b and may be rotated in the same direction as the fourth gear body 77 by the second accommodation gear belt.
• the sixth gear unit 77 may be arranged adjacent to one side of the second accommodation rail spaced away from the separation rail 741.
• the first gear unit 77, second gear unit 77, third gear unit 77, and fourth gear unit 77 are arranged side by side along the separation rail 741.
• the first gear body and the second gear body are engaged with the first separation gear belt to connect the first gear unit 77 and the third gear unit 77 to each other.
• the second gear body and the fourth gear body are engaged with the first separation gear belt to connect the second gear unit 77 and the fourth gear unit 77 to each other.
• the third gear unit 77 and the fifth gear unit 77 are arranged side by side along the first accommodation rail 733a.
• the third gear body 7733 and the fifth gear body are engaged with the first accommodation gear belt 763a to connect the third gear unit and the fifth gear unit to each other.
• the third gear body of the third gear unit 77 may include a two-tiered tooth structure that may be engaged with the first separation gear belt and the first accommodation gear belt.
• the fourth gear body 77 and the sixth gear body 77 are arranged side by side along the second accommodation rail 733b.
• the fourth gear body 7743 and the sixth gear body 7763 are engaged with the second accommodation gear belt 763b to connect the fourth gear body 77 and the sixth gear body 77 to each other.
• the fourth gear body 7743 may be provided with a two-tiered tooth structure that may be engaged with the first separation gear belt and the second accommodation gear belt.
• This structure may allow the first gear unit 77, the third gear unit 77, and the fifth gear unit 77 to rotate at the same speed and in the same direction.
• This structure may allow the second gear unit 77, the fourth gear unit 77, and the sixth gear unit 77 to rotate in the same direction.
• first gear unit 77 and the second gear unit 77 rotate in opposite directions because they are engaged with each other. More specifically, because the first transmission gear 7715 of the first gear unit 77 and the second transmission gear 7725 of the second gear unit 77 are engaged with each other, the first gear body 7713 and the second gear body 7723 rotate in opposite directions.
• the first gear body 77, the third gear body 77, and the fifth gear body rotate at the same speed as the second gear body 77, the fourth gear body 77, and the sixth gear body 77 each other, but in the opposite direction.
• first gear set the above-described structure of engagement between the first gear unit 77, the third gear unit 77, the fifth gear unit 77, the first separation gear belt, and the first accommodation gear belt.
• second gear set the above-described structure of engagement between the second gear unit 77, the fourth gear unit 77, the sixth gear unit 77, the second separation gear belt, and the second accommodation gear belt.
• both the first gear set and the second gear set are collectively defined as a "gear set.”
• the other gears 77 may rotate with the one gear unit.
• the drive part 78 directly rotates the fourth gear unit 77 such that the fourth gear unit 77 rotates as a main shaft
• the second gear unit 77 and the sixth gear unit 77 are rotated with driven shafts by the gear belt at the same speed and in the same direction as the fourth gear unit 77.
• This rotation of the second gear set may be transmitted to the first gear set by the engagement of the first transmission gear (driven shaft) and the second transmission gear 7725.
• the first gear set and the second gear set rotate at the same speed, but in opposite directions.
• the separation body 51 of the partition 5 may be divided into a first separation body 51 connected to the first gear set and a second separation body 51 connected to the second gear set. In the structure described above, when at least one of the gear units 77 is rotated, the first gear set and the second gear set rotate in opposite directions.
• the second gear set rotates clockwise.
• the first separation body 51 slides on the separation rail toward the first accommodation rail 733a while connected to the movable part 75, and the second separation body 51 slides on the separation rail toward the second accommodation rail 733b while connected to the movable part 75, such that the distance between the first separation body 51 and the second separation body 51 increases.
• the partition 5 may be opened in both directions to allow the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 to communicate with each other.
• the partition 5 may be closed in both directions to separate the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138.
• FIG. 24 is a partial enlarged view of part E of FIG. 22 .
• the separation body 51 may be interfered with by the guide assembly when moving through the curved portion between the separation rail 741 and the accommodation rail 743, and thus may not move smoothly.
• a connector 53 of the present disclosure may allow the separation body 51 to be spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the mounting base 711 or the guide frame 72 using the first connection body extending upward from the separation body 51. Further, the connector 53 may allow the separation body 51 to be spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the mounting base 711 or the guide frame 72 using the second extension body extending from an end of the first connection body toward the mounting portion and coupled to the movable part.
• the connector 53 may connect the separation body 51 to the guide assembly while physically spacing the separation body 51 and the guide assembly apart from each other.
• the separation body 51 may include a plurality of separation structures 511, which will be described later.
• the widthwise width of the connector 53 may be less than the width of the plurality of separation structures 511 to allow the separation body to move smoothly in the curved section.
• FIG. 25-(a) is a view illustrating a partition disposed in a separation position by the guide assembly according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure
• FIG. 25-(b) is a view illustrating the partition moved to an accommodation position on an opposite side by the guide assembly according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure
• FIG. 25-(c) is a view illustrating the partition partially moved by the guide assembly according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.
• the partition 5 may include a first separation body 51a and a second separation body 51b.
• the first separation body 51a may be moved from the first separation rail 741a to the first accommodation rail 741b
• the second separation body 51b may be moved from the second separation rail 741b to the second accommodation rail 743b.
• the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 may be quickly opened.
• the partition 5 does not move to the rear of the second object processing room 138 because it is moved while being opened or closed in both directions.
• a gap is not formed between the rear of the second object processing room 138 and the rear surface 132 of the first chamber 13.
• the second object processing room 138 may have a larger space.
• the guide assembly 7 may separate the first object processing room from the second object processing room by separately moving only one of the first separation body 51a and the second separation body 51b (.
• a clutch (not shown) may be further provided to connect and disconnect the first and second gear units.
• FIG. 26-(a) is a schematic view illustrating a partition partitioning a first chamber into front and rear portions
• FIG. 26-(b) is a schematic view illustrating a partition partitioning the first chamber in a front-to-back direction and width direction
• FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating arrangement of the partition according to FIG. 26-(b) .
• the first chamber 13, which in the present disclosure is partitioned by the partition 5 into the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138, is not substantially limited to a position where the chamber is partitioned.
• the first chamber 13 of the present disclosure may be partitioned into front and rear parts of the cabinet 1 corresponding to the first object processing room 137 connected to the inlet 11 and the second object processing room 138 disposed at the rear of the first object processing room 137.
• the first object processing room 137 may be separated as a space for a display purpose and the second object processing room 138 may be separated as a space for a storage purpose, thereby increasing the space utilization of the first chamber 13.
• the objects accommodated in the object treatment apparatus 100 may be smaller than clothing. Without the partitioning of the first chamber 13, space may be wasted along the front-to-back direction.
• the utilization of the space in the first chamber 13 may be improved while reducing the difference in height from adjacent furniture.
• the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138 which are partitioned by the partition 5, are not necessarily limited to a space partitioned into front and rear parts.
• the object processing rooms may not be limited to space partitioned into front and rear parts. Any structure allowing the first chamber 13 to be utilized efficiently may be employed from the perspective of the first flow path and the second flow path, from the perspective of the size of the space, and from the perspective of the object material to be accommodated.
• the first chamber 13 of the present disclosure may be partitioned in the front-to-back direction and in the width direction.
• the first object processing room 137 may be used as a space to accommodate relatively bulky objects
• the second object processing room 138 may be used as a space to accommodate relatively small objects. Thereby, space utilization according to the size of the objects may be enhanced.
• FIG. 28-(a) is a view illustrating a lower portion of the first chamber when the partition is in a separation position
• FIG. 28-(b) is a view illustrating a lower portion of the first chamber when the partition has been partially moved.
• the first chamber 13 may further include a slide groove 1357 that extends in a recessed manner in parallel with the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138.
• the partition 5 may include a protrusion 55 extending downward from the separation body 51 to be inserted into the slide groove 1357.
• the partition 5 may be guided along the slide groove 1357.
• the partition 5 may slide consistently throughout the separation body 51 extending in the vertical direction.
• FIG. 29-(a) illustrates an example of a separation structure and a coupling structure of a separation body according to one embodiment of the present disclosure
• FIG. 29-(b) is a diagram illustrating that when one side of the separation structure is pressed, an adjacent separation structure bends at a predetermined angle.
• the separation body 51 may include a plurality of separation structures 511 and a coupling structure 513 that bendably connects the separation structures 511 to each other.
• Both sides of the front surface 5111 of the separation structure 511 may include cut surfaces 5111a that are formed in a cut shape.
• the cut surfaces 5111a may form a first angle Qa with respect to the front surface 5111 of the separation structure 511.
• the rear surface 5112 of the separation structure 511 may be coupled to the coupling structure 513.
• the rear surface 5112 of the separation structure may be provided with a coupling space 5112a formed in a recessed manner. Through the coupling space 5112a, the weight of the separation body 51 may be reduced, thereby making the movement of the partition smoother. Also, through the coupling space 5112a, the connector 53 and the protrusion portion 55 may be coupled.
• the coupling structure 513 may connect the separation structures 511 to each other.
• the coupling structure 513 may connect the separation structures 511 such that the separation structures 511 are mutually bendable.
• the separation structures 511 may be separated from each other and the coupling structure 513 may include a sheet to connect the separation structures 511 to each other.
• the coupling structure 513 may be formed of an air impermeable material to prevent air from flowing between the first object processing room 137 and the second object processing room 138.
• FIG. 29-(b) illustrates a case where a force is applied to the separation body.
• a separation body including the separation structures 511 of described above may bend to form a second angle Qb with an adjacent separation body when subjected to a force applied rearward between the separation body 511 and the adjacent separation body.
• the second angle Q2 may be structurally twice as large as the first angle Qa.
• the partition structure 511 and the adjacent partition structure 511 may not be bent to a predetermined angle, and thus the partition may break when a user inserts an object.
• the separation structure may be bent to protect the object.
• FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram illustrating a separation body disposed in a curved section of a slide groove according to one embodiment of the present disclosure
• the separation body 51 including the plurality of separation structures 511 may have a reduced radius of curvature in the curved section due to the cut surface 3111a.
• each separation structure 511 may be bent by a first angle Qa by the cut surface 3111a compared to a case where each separation structure has a simple rectangular shape without the cut surface 3111a. This structure allows the separation body 51 to move more smoothly between the separation rail 741 and the accommodation rail 743.

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